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OXFORD, Ohio - A promising start had the Miami hockey team rolling, but Rensselaer spoiled that fast start and eked out a 3-2 win at Steve `Coach' Cady Arena on Saturday night.

The RedHawks fell to 5-10-2 this season while the Engineers are now 11-6-3.

Despite being idle for a month, the RedHawks were sharp off the opening faceoff and sustained some pressure on the Engineer end. The second shift of the night netted a goal as Josh Melnick finished a pretty passing display when Jack Roslovic fed him atop the crease at the left and he outwaited Jason Kasdorf walking it across the middle before burying his sixth goal of the season. Anthony Louis also drew an assist on the play as the Red and White grabbed the 1-0 lead just 80 seconds into the contest.

Play slowed down at even strength for the remainder of the period, though Miami did enjoy a 12-8 advantage in shots. Six of the RedHawks' 12 shots came on their two power plays, though none found the back of the net. In fact, the second man advantage late in the period saw Riley Bourbonnais sprung for a shorthanded breakaway goal that tied the score at 1-1 with 1:24 to go in the first, a score that held into intermission.

Bourbonnais got a step on the defense again and beat Ryan McKay with a wrist shot from the left circle to give the Engineers their first lead of the night at 2-1 with just 5:13 gone by in the middle stanza.

Sean Kuraly helped generate a Miami push by blocking a clearing attempt and getting the puck to the net, where he and Kevin Morris both got whacks at the puck near the crease that eluded Kasdorf, but went off the post. MU completed a line change while maintaining possession in the offensive zone, putting three shots on goal and hitting another post in a sequence that lasted over a minute.

Miami took its first penalty of the night with 10:21 to go in the second and the nation's top penalty killing unit did not allow a single shot attempt in a perfect two minutes. Over a minute later, Louis weaved through the neutral zone and created a 2-on-1, where he fed Jack Roslovic at the right wing side and the freshman buried his ninth goal of the year after waiting for Kasdorf to commit low and shift across to even the score at 2-2.

RPI's Kenny Gillespie answered with a goal 2:19 later after a couple Chris Bradley shots were blocked from the right wing, but his centering feed got to him back door for a tap in with a penalty in progress to give the Engineers a 3-2 lead. The RedHawks killed off the ensuing penalty, but were put shorthanded again with 28.3 seconds remaining in the frame. Miami was able to move up ice with a late rush and drew a penalty out of RPI to move play to four aside entering the third period.

The early 4-on-4 portion of the third period came and went without much fanfare, as did a brief Miami power play. With the dust settled, the RedHawks went about trying to erase that one-goal deficit. About seven minutes into the final regulation frame, Kiefer Sherwood was fed in for an elongated 2-on-1 rush as he fed Kuraly coming on late up the left wing. His wrist shot got by Kasdorf, but went just wide of the post to leave the Engineers ahead 3-2.

Miami had a 6-4 advantage in shots in the final 20 minutes and got sustained time in the offensive zone with an extra skater on the ice in the final minute, but could not get a shot through to the net as RPI held on for a season-opening win.

The RedHawks allowed a season-low 17 shots in outshooting the Engineers 25-17 for the night. Miami went 0-for-3 on the power play while RPI finished 0-for-4 with the man advantage, but did score a short-handed goal. McKay made 14 saves for MU while Kasdorf turned away 23 of the 25 shots he faced at the other end to drop the Red and White to 0-6-1 in their last seven games. Roslovic finished with a goal and an assist while Louis also posted a multi-point game with two helpers.

With the series finale taking place on a Sunday, puck drop at Steve `Coach' Cady Arena will be at 5 p.m.