WEST POINT, N.Y. – The Army West Point hockey team fell to a 4-0 setback against RIT in an Atlantic Hockey Association contest on Friday evening at Tate Rink.
Army falls to 0-5-1 overall and 0-4-1 in the conference following the defeat, while RIT improves to 3-4-1 and 3-0-0.
Cole Bruns made his third start in goal for the Black Knights and finished with 27 saves.
C.J. Reuschlein registered one of Army’s best scoring opportunities of the opening period with a close-range shot that was saved by RIT goalkeeper Mike Rotolo with 7:10 remaining in the frame. Rotolo finished the night with 25 stops. Reuschlein came in as part of a 2-on-1 break for the Black Knights with teammate Conor Andrle, taking a shot off of a backhanded pass from Andrle.
Army had one power play chance in the first period and recorded a single shot on the man advantage.
Bruns made a save on an early chance for RIT to begin the second period, stopping a shot from Alexander Kuqali from the left faceoff circle just 43 seconds into the frame.
RIT found its way onto the scoreboard 4:16 into the second period, as Gabe Valenzuela received a pass from Dan Schuler out of the neutral zone before scoring from the left side to give his team a 1-0 lead.
Both teams were whistled for penalties a minute apart midway through the second period, with an RIT player being sent in with 12:31 remaining, followed by an Army penalty a minute later. The Black Knight defense blocked away a pair of shots after the initial infraction by RIT ended to create a power play for the Tigers.
Army manufactured a dangerous scoring chance with 8:42 on the clock in the middle period, with Joe Kozlak firing a shot just wide of the net on a 2-on-1 opportunity.
RIT double its lead with 8:21 left in the second frame, as Erik Brown sent a shot from the left corner toward the net before the puck caromed off a Black Knight defender and crossed the goal line.
Army was called for a penalty with 10 seconds to play in the second period and RIT wasted little time taking advantage of its opportunity, as Schuler redirected a shot from Brady Norrish to score with three ticks left before the second intermission.
With the hosts looking to climb back into the game, Mike Preston rang a shot off the post for the Black Knights 38 seconds into the third period. Bruns and the Army defense kept RIT forwards at bay for the next several minutes, as Bruns stopped a high shot by Caleb Cameron with 12:48 remaining in the contest before Ryan Nick got in the way of a back-to-back shots at the 11:50 mark and the 11:40 mark, respectively.
RIT added its fourth and final score of the evening on a tally from Greg Amlong in a 4-on-4 situation with 7:47 remaining.
Army returns to Tate Rink tomorrow night to host RIT at 7:05 p.m.
Ice Shavings: Bruns made his third start of the season between the pipes … Army falls to 3-15-5 in its all-time series against RIT.
