ITHACA -- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute head coach Seth Appert says he will not rest goaltender Allen York's still tender ankle and play backup Bryce Merriam in tonight's regular-season finale at Cornell.
Though the game-winning goal by Colgate's Nick Prockow was a soft one, York played well.
Before RPI tied the score 1-1 in the second period, York made point-blank, brilliant saves on David McIntyre and Austin Smith.
Alex hurting: Alex Angers-Goulet missed practice all week with a leg injury and did not make the road trip.
Paul Kerins moved back from left wing to center, replacing Angers-Goulet in the circle, centering for Josh Rabbani and Bryan Brutlag and Kerins responded with one goal and one assist.
Appert said there will be no "dramatic" lineup change tonight.
Despondent locker room: Except for their dismal penalty killing, the Engineers played well at Colgate.
The feeling in the locker room was one of failure, however. They had an opportunity to earn an opening-round playoff bye -- it was right within their grasp -- but they couldn't to it.
Literally, Prockow's goal came just seconds -- 10 or 12 -- after it was announced in the Starr Rink pressbox that St. Lawrence had lost its game to Dartmouth, meaning the RPI-Colgate winner would earn the final opening-round bye.
Resiliency will be tested: Should the Engineers lose tonight, and that's quite likely since Cornell will be playing for an at-large NCAA Tournament berth, they will enter the playoffs having lost four of five.
Resiliency, perhaps their best positive trait, will be uppermost as the playoffs begin next week at Houston Field House againt Dartmouth, Princeton or Brown. (Should RPI win tonight, it will host last-place Clarkson).