ROCHESTER, NY – For the second straight night, the RIT men’s hockey team (3-6-2, 3-2-1 AHC) fell to visiting Bentley (5-3-1, 3-2-1 AHC) by a score of 3-2 in overtime in front of 2,719 fans at the Gene Polisseni Center on Saturday.
Like last night, RIT held a large advantage in shots (38-26), but unlike last night, held two one-goal leads, but could not hang on for the win. Bentley’s Kyle Schmidt tied the game with 5:08 left in regulation and Andrew Gladiuk won the contest 46 seconds into overtime.
For the second consecutive evening a Bentley goaltender stymied the RIT offense, as Gabe Antoni stopped 36 of 38 shots to earn his second win of the weekend. Tyler Deresky also scored for the Falcons, Drew Callin had two assists.
Greg Amlong (O’Fallon, MO/UMass Lowell) and Mark Golberg (Ottawa, Ontario/Cumberland Grads) scored goals for the Tigers, while goaltender Christian Short (Vaughan, Ontario/Surrey Eagles) made 23 saves.
RIT was 0-for-2 with the man-advantage, while Bentley was 0-for-1. Just five penalties were called all evening.
“Bentley took advantage with the game on the line, and we didn’t,” said RIT head coach Wayne Wilson. “We had chances, but we are still trying to find out who is going to step and be the heroes offensively over the course of the season.”
RIT scored the lone goal in a strong opening period, as they out-shot Bentley, 14-5.
Short was not tested often in the opening period, but he had to make a big save on Tyler Deresky, who scooped up a loose puck in neutral zone and sped in on a breakaway. Deresky tried to beat Short low, but the RIT goaltender stood his ground to keep the game scoreless.
RIT would grab the lead at the 14:07 mark of the period, as Amlong fired in a rocket of a slap shot from the right side boards after Garrett McMullen (Churchville, NY/Trail Smoke Eaters)’s initial shot was stopped by Antoni. Chase Norrish (Strongfield, Saskatchewan/Yorkton Terriers) fed McMullen at the point, his shot went off Antoni right to Amlong, who fired the shot into an open net. Bentley protested that Antoni was interfered with, but after a long video review, a goal was ruled.
The second period was much more wide open, with several good chances by both squads. Each team scored once in the period, as RIT took a 2-1 lead into the second intermission.
Bentley came out and took it to RIT over the first five minutes, generating several RIT turnovers, while creating some great chances. The Falcons were rewarded 2:10 into the period, as after a RIT giveaway, Deresky beat Short through a screen after the shot was deflected by a Tiger defender to tie the game at 1-1.
For the next few minutes, it was the Short show, as he made a handful of key saves on point-blank chances in front to keep the game tied. Billy Eiserman cut to the net from the corner and looked to have Short beat to the far post, but the RIT goaltender stuck his right pad out to keep the puck out.
The Tigers would regain the lead with 9:25 left in the period, as Golberg centered a pass on a 2-on-1 that went off a Bentley defenseman’s skate and over Antoni for the goal, his second of the year. Matt Abt (Leduc, Alberta/Whitecourt Wolverines ) fired a pass that deflected off Josh Mitchell (Osoyoos, British Columbia/Alberni Valley Bulldogs) in the neutral zone, right to Golberg, creating the odd-man rush. With his winger going hard to the net, Golberg was able to center the pass and the get the fortunate bounce for the goal.
That seemed to re-energize RIT, as they had several prolonged stretches of play in the Bentley zone as the period wound down, but could not convert.
Just a minute into the third period, Brady Norrish (Strongfield, Saskatchewan/Yorkton Terriers) saved what looked to be a sure goal, going down to block a point-blank chance by Kyle Schmidt after a nice pass from behind the RIT net.
Antoni made his best save of the night with just under 10 minutes left in regulation, robbing Skirving with the right pad save going to net after a perfect feed from Mitchell on a 3-on-2 rush.
Schmidt tied the game with 5:08 left off a scramble in front. Callin fired a past to Schmidt in front and he beat Short to the top right corner.
In overtime, Gladiuk was the recipient of a fortunate bounce in front, as Max French’s shot bounced off teammate Danny Kucerovy and Short right to Gladiuk in close and he beat Short for the game-winner.
RIT leads the all-time series between the two schools, 17-11-2, including a 15-10-2 record since the Division I era started in 2005. RIT and Bentley tied for third in the league standings last season.
Last night, RIT fired a Division I program record 56 shots in regulation, but French’s goal late in the overtime session gave Bentley a 3-2 win. Jayson Argue stopped 43 of 45 shots over the first two periods before leaving with an injury. Antoni stopped all 13 shots he faced for the win in relief. Brady Norrish (Strongfield, Saskatchewan/Yorkton Terriers) scored both goals for RIT.
RIT is off next weekend, and returns to action on Saturday, Nov. 28 with a road contest at No. 2 Boston College that gets underway at 4 p.m.
