ROCHESTER, NY — The RIT (1-1-0, 1-1-0 Atlantic Hockey) men’s hockey team dropped game two in its weekend series with Robert Morris (1-1-0, 1-1-0 AHC) on Saturday, 6-5.
Robert Morris started the scoring just 1:25 into the game, when Brady Ferguson scored on a breakaway off of a crisp breakout pass from his defenseman Eric Israel.
The Tigers took it from there, though. On one of RIT’s four power-plays in the first period, junior Chase Norrish (Strongfield, Saskatchewan/Yorkton Terriers) potted his first goal of the season on a slapshot from the point. Myles Powell (Courtenay, British Columbia/Cowichan Valley Capitals) and Brady Norrish (Strongfield, Saskatchewan/Yorkton Terriers) assisted the goal.
It didn’t end there for RIT in the opening stanza. Sophomore Liam Kerins (Caledon, Ontario/North York Rangers) found the back of the net for the second straight game on another power-play, after a shot from Chase Norrish (Strongfield, Saskatchewan/Yorkton Terriers) was knocked aside and right onto Kerins’s tape. Erik Brown (Keene, Ontario/Kemptville 73’s) finished the first period scoring for the Tigers, as his first goal of the year, on the power-play, put RIT ahead 3-1.
The second period began with more of the same from RIT. The Tigers scored just 54 seconds into the frame, as freshman Adam Brubacher (Elmira, Ontario/Powell River Kings) fired in his second goal in as many games. The goal was assisted by linemates Kerins and Gabe Valenzuela (Brampton, Ontario/North York Rangers). Just past the halfway point in the period, RIT found the back of the net again. Jordan Peacock (Burlington, Ontario/Burlington Cougars)’s first career goal put the Tigers up 5-1. That’s when the Colonials decided to make a goalie change, putting freshman Francis Marotte in for starter Andrew Pikul.
The teams combined for eight penalties in the second stanza, and they came back to bite the Tigers. The Colonials scored three goals in 1:18. The three power-play tallies (two of which came in 5-on-3 situations) tied the game at 5. Ferguson and Israel each had a goal and two assists in the span, while Matthew Brady had one of the goals, along with a secondary assist.
“We got three power-play goals in the first, but it gave us a false sense of security,” head coach Wayne Wilson said. “But then we imploded with penalties. They got themselves right back in the game, and then it was anyone’s game.”
The game-winning goal was scored 5:46 into the third period, when a pass was intercepted by Ferguson in the slot, who put his third goal of the game on the board, which eventually solidified the 6-5 win for Robert Morris.
The teams combined for 17 penalties on the night. RIT was 3-for-8 with the extra man, while Robert Morris was 4-for-6. Marotte picked up his first career win, not allowing any goals on the 27 shots sent his way. RIT senior Mike Rotolo (Rochester, NY/Cedar Rapids Roughriders) dropped to 1-1-0 with the loss.
“You can’t wear yourself out killing penalties and expect to have the same energy,” said Wilson. “We gave them the momentum back. They were dead in the water at 5-1 but we handed it to them, and they took it.”
The Tigers return to action on Saturday for Brick City Homecoming Weekend against Connecticut at Blue Cross Arena in downtown Rochester.
