Courtesy of RITAthletics.com
NEW HAVEN, CT – Sacred Heart captain Mike Crocock scored with 52 seconds left in regulation to break a 3-3 tie and lift the Pioneers (11-17-4, 9-13-4 AHA) to a 5-3 win over the RIT men’s hockey team (14-16-2, 13-12-1 AHA) at Ingalls Rink on the campus of Yale University Sunday afternoon. The loss snapped RIT’s four-game winning streak.
The game was knotted at 2-2 heading into the third period before Zach Tsekos scored on a rebound off a rush 1:32 in to give the Pioneers a 3-2 lead. Myles Powell (Courtenay, British Columbia/Cowichan Valley Capitals) would answer 3:05 later on a power-play, sliding in a pass from Erik Brown (Keene, Ontario/Kemptville 73’s) that went off a Pioneers defender for his 11th goal of the season.
Both teams were looking at overtime before Crocock threw a centering pass in front that went off a Tiger defender’s skate and in after sustained pressure with 52 seconds left for the eventual game-winning goal. Tsekos put the game away with his second goal of the period, an empty-netter 25 seconds later.
Brown had a goal and an assist to lead RIT offensively, after recording back-to-back hat-tricks in his previous two games, including four goals in last night’s 5-0 win. Brown has eight goals in his last three games, a team mark for most over a three-game stretch at the Division I level. His 25 goals are now just two shy of the RIT single-season record.
Mark Logan (Calgary, Alberta/Brooks Bandits) added a first period goal, while Powell’s goal was the 99th point of his collegiate career.Chase Norrish (Strongfield, Saskatchewan/Yorkton Terriers) extended his point-scoring streak to eight games with an assist on Brown’s goal, while Willett extended his point-scoring streak to five games with an assist on Powell’s goal. Goaltender Christian Short (Vaughan, Ontario/Surrey Eagles) had his personal four-game winning streak snapped, stopping 18 shots.
Tsekos had two goals, while Crocock, Vito Bavaro and Austin McIlmurray also scored. Goaltender Brett Magnus made 22 saves for the win.
Despite the loss, RIT remains in a tie for fourth in the Atlantic Hockey standings with two games to play. The top five teams receive a first-round bye in the upcoming Atlantic Hockey Postseason Tournament.
“We knew Sacred Heart was going to come out extremely hard after last night (a 5-0 RIT win),” said RIT head coach Wayne Wilson. “They capitalized on their opportunities today. It’s now time to focus on getting points next weekend to earn the first-round bye.”
McIlmuuray opened the scoring just 1:09 into the game, getting behind the RIT defense and flipping a shot from close back against the grain past Short, who was sliding across.
Just 1:14 later, Logan redirected a point shot by Chris McKay (Edmonton, Alberta/Sherwood Park Crusaders) past Magnus for his third goal of the season to toe the game. Matt Abt (Leduc, Alberta/Whitecourt Wolverines) also assisted on the goal.
Bavaro gave the Pioneers a 2-1 lead just 6:54 into the game, intercepting a pass at his own blue-line, streaking into the RIT zone on a breakaway and beating Short between the legs for his 15th goal of the season.
Brown would tie the game late in the second period, taking a feed from Gabe Valenzuela (Brampton, Ontario/North York Rangers) on the rush and after getting his first shot blocked, fired the rebound past Magnus to the far side for his 25th goal of the season.
RIT leads the all-time series between the two schools, 23-7-2. Last night, Brown tied a Division I single-game team record with four goals and Short made 18 saves in a 5-0 RIT win over the Pioneers
RIT is right back in action to close out the regular season next weekend, with a pair of home games against AHA leader Mercyhurst. Both games from the Gene Polisseni Center get underway at 7:05 p.m.
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