Engineers Complete the Sweep: Sobieski’s Three-Point Night Lifts RPI Past LIU

By: J.J. Pavlick | Troy, N.Y.

TROY, N.Y. — Securing a hard-fought collegiate hockey sweep requires matching a desperate opponent’s late-game surge with elite structural composure.

Just twenty-four hours after edging out a tight defensive battle, the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) Engineers relied on an explosive second-period offensive sequence and concrete goal-line defense to secure a 3-2 victory over the Long Island University (LIU) Sharks on Saturday night at Houston Field House. The victory completes a decisive two-game weekend series sweep for the Engineers (3-1-0), while sending the Sharks home with a challenging 1-5-0 record to open the campaign.

RPI weaponized a game-high three-point performance from defenseman Kazimier Sobieski and a stellar 24-save performance by netminder Ethan McCallum to completely weather a frantic extra-attacker push from the visiting Sharks.

A Scoreless Operational Chokehold

The opening twenty minutes served as a masterclass in goaltending resilience for LIU’s Daniel Duris. Coming off a heavy workload from the previous night, the Sharks’ defensive unit spent the majority of the first frame pinned deep within their own zone under a relentless transition forecheck by RPI.

The Engineers completely dominated the pace of play, launching 15 shots on goal in the first period alone. RPI cycled the puck cleanly, utilizing point-to-point distribution from Sobieski and Alfred Lindberg to test the interior of the Sharks’ defense. Duris was spectacular, turning aside all 15 pucks he faced. LIU’s shot-blocking rotations—led by defenseman Conner Brown—and back-line coverage held firm under maximum duress, absorbing the initial wave to send both squads into the first intermission deadlocked at 0-0 despite RPI holding a massive 15-4 advantage in shots.

Second-Period Fireworks

The strategic patience of the home crowd was rewarded just 29 seconds into the middle frame. Striking on the very first shift of the period, Sobieski found a clean seam, finishing a precision setup from Ian Scherzer and Lindberg to break the ice and give RPI a quick 1-0 advantage.

Emboldened by the breakthrough, the Engineers sustained their pressure and doubled the cushion less than six minutes later. At the 6:15 mark, Scherzer found the back of the net, burying a clinical feed from Lindberg and Sobieski to push the margin to 2-0.

LIU refused to capitulate on the road and struck back at even strength. The Sharks adjusted their neutral-zone posture and answered midway through the frame at 10:22 when Dylan Kinch scored an unassisted goal to cut the deficit to 2-1. RPI’s response was nearly instantaneous; just 95 seconds after the Sharks’ tally, Sobieski struck again at 11:57, hammering home his second goal of the night off feeds from Jordan Gavin and Rainers Rullers to restore the two-goal cushion at 3-1.

The chaotic second-period scoring drive concluded late in the frame. At 18:42, LIU’s Sixten Jennersjö found room inside the circles, slipping an unassisted shot past McCallum to pull the Sharks back within one and send RPI into the second intermission, protecting a slim 3-2 edge.

McCallum and the Crease Wall Lock Down the Third

The final twenty minutes devolved into a high-stakes defensive stand as RPI looked to insulate their one-goal margin. The Engineers’ penalty-killing unit proved to be the ultimate structural anchor, finishing a perfect 2-for-2 on the night by matching minor infractions against Luke Goukler and Ian Scherzer with disciplined box coverage.

Midway through the final frame, LIU received a high-leverage power-play opportunity to find the equalizer. The Sharks established a clean zone entry and peppered the net, but McCallum stood entirely tall, turning aside three consecutive grade-A looks on the man advantage to kill off the threat. McCallum made eight critical saves in the final period to anchor the victory, while Duris matched him with eight stops of his own to finish with a robust 34 saves on 37 total shots.

With 1:30 remaining on the clock, LIU emptied their net for an extra attacker, unleashing a frantic six-on-five assault. The Sharks generated multiple late scoring chances in the low slot, but McCallum stopped the final two shots that reached his pads, and the RPI defense blocked a desperate final attempt in the closing seconds to seal the 3-2 victory and secure the clean weekend sweep.

Turning Attention to the Road

The Engineers will wash the film from this successful home stand immediately as they prepare for a highly anticipated road clash next week. RPI will travel to face RIT on Friday, October 23, at 7:05 PM, looking to carry their current momentum into a hostile away environment.