Brown Loses Game One of Best of Three ECAC First Round Series at RPI

Brown news release…

TROY, N.Y. – Max Willman (Barnstable, Mass.) and Charlie Corcoran (New Canaan, Conn.) both scored, but the Brown men’s hockey team was edged by sixth seeded Rensselaer, 3-2, in game one of the ECAC First Round on Friday night at Houston Field House.

Brown, the eleventh seed, moves to 5-18-7, while the Engineers improve to 17-13-7 after winning game one of the best-of-three series.

Brown outshot Rensselaer by a 35-23 margin, including 17 shots in the first period and 16 in the third. Corcoran also assisted on Willman’s goal for the two-point effort. Tim Ernst (Pickering, Ontario) made 20 saves in net for the Bears. Jason Kasdorf had 33 stops on the other end.

Brown controlled the game throughout most of the opening period, outshooting the Engineers by a 17-5 margin, but the home side went into the locker room with a one-goal lead. RPI opened the scoring at 7:37 when Meirs Moore blasted a shot from the left circle over the shoulder of Ernst for the early lead.

The Bears threatened with several quality chances near the end of the frame. After Brandon Pfeil (West Vancouver, British Columbia) and Tyler Bird (Andover, Mass.) had consecutive shots hit the pipe, the Bears had a two-on-one rush during the final minute, but Kasdorf turned away a shot and rebound to preserve the lead.

Willman tied the game for Brown at 2:57 in the second period. The sophomore blasted a shot from the right circle that slipped through traffic and past Kasdorf for his third of the season. Corcoran and Max Gottlieb (Old Bridge, N.J.) picked up assists on the play.

Rensselaer battled back to re-gain the lead late in the period, when Mike Prapavessis scored with 44 seconds remaining for the one-goal lead at the second intermission.

The Engineers took advantage of a Brown penalty early in the third, as Jared Wilson scored 17 seconds into the power play to move out in front, 3-1.

Brown responded with a power-play goal by Corcoran at 7:04 to trim the deficit back to one goal. Sam Lafferty (Hollidaysburg, Pa.) moved into the slot, gained space around a defenseman and hit Corcoran to the left for the one-timer. Marchin also earned an assist on the play.

Willman nearly evened the score shortly after on a wraparound, but the call was ruled a no goal on the ice and confirmed after video review.

The Bears continued to maintain pressure on the Engineers, leading in shots, 16-6, during the third period. Nevertheless, RPI killed off a penalty midway through the third and then staved off the final 1:24 of a man advantage to hold on for the win.

Brown and RPI meet for game two of the best-of-three series tomorrow night at 7 PM.