ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The Purple Eagles hockey team got a huge boost Friday night against the RIT Tigers with the return of junior goaltender Jackson Teichroeb to the crease. Teichroeb made save after save for the Purple Eagles, fighting his way to a 24-save shutout as Niagara defeated RIT 2-0 at the Gene Polisseni Center.
Teichroeb’s shutout was the first for Niagara since he blanked AIC in a 1-0, double-overtime playoff victory on March 7, 2014, and it was the first road shutout for the Purple Eagles since Nov. 6, 2012. Dan Kolenda scored both goals, while Tanner Lomsnes picked up two assists and Sam Rennaker added one helper.
“The guys are excited to have Jackson back,” head coach Dave Burkholder said. “He’s a junior, he’s playoff-tested, he’s played in this building, and he was outstanding. He bailed us out on numerous times when they had odd-man rushes, and that’s a game saver.”
Throughout the entire game, Teichroeb was a calming presence in net for the Purple Eagles. The junior had to make numerous saves on odd-man rushes, but he showed few signs of rust after missing the first 14 games of the season. In a scoreless first period, the Purple Eagles outshot the Tigers 10-7. Teichroeb was forced to stay on his toes through the early action, stopping a two-on-one off a turnover in the opening minute and turning away a pair of RIT shots from the back door in the early goings as well.
The second period was more of the same, but Niagara had plenty of chances to break the scoreless tie. Nick Farmer rang a shot off the post on an odd-man rush, and Luke Edwards and Albin Karlsson failed to connect on a loose puck right in front of RIT netminder Mike Rotolo.
It took five minutes into the third period for the game’s first goal, courtesy of Kolenda. A shot from Vinny Muto at the point went wide and behind the net, and Sam Rennaker and Tanner Lomsnes worked to get the puck and jam it in front. Kolenda got the best look at the loose puck and he roofed a shot over Rotolo to open the scoring. The senior from Superior, Wisconsin is currently on a three-game point streak with three goals and two assists in that time.
RIT had their fair share of chances to knot the game at one goal apiece in the final 15 minutes of regulation, but Teichroeb was up to the test at every opportunity. The best chance for the Tigers came when Niagara had a power play in the final two minutes, as a shot from Keegan Harper was blocked and sprung RIT for a breakaway shot which Teichroeb turned away with the blocker.
With the RIT net empty and Niagara on the power-play in the closing minutes, the two teams each had their chances in five-on-five hockey. Lomsnes forced a turnover as RIT attempted to break out of their zone, but his turnaround shot rang off the post. Kolenda put the rebound home for his second goal of the game, giving Niagara a two-goal lead they would not relinquish in the final 55 seconds.
Tomorrow night marks the final game for both Niagara and RIT before a three-week layoff for the holidays. The Purple Eagles and Tigers face off back at Dwyer Arena Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. Tickets are available at the Dwyer Arena ticket office or by phone at (716) 286-TIXX (8499).
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