By PAUL GOTHAM
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — It took 20 minutes of game action for the RIT men’s hockey team to slow the momentum of Long Island University. Once that was accomplished, the Tigers found their offensive rhythm.
Three different players scored in the second period, and RIT downed LIU 5-1 in non-league action from the Gene Polisseni Center, Saturday night.
“It was a better effort tonight,” RIT head coach Wayne Wilson said. “We kinda showed this weekend when we’re not playing our best what can happen. And if we play well what we’re capable of.”
Trailing 1-0 after 20 minutes of play, Jake Joffe, Will Calverly and Elijah Gonsalves scored a goal apiece to provide all the offense needed.
After managing just five shots on goal in the first period. RIT peppered LIU’s goaltenders Stephen Mundinger and Vinnie Purpura with 21 shots in the second stanza.
“It really didn’t have much to do with execution,” Wilson said of the second-period performance. “It had more to do with our effort.”
Less than three minutes into the second, Joffe connected on his third goal of the season. Teammate Bryson Traptow intercepted a clearing attempt along the right side in the Long Island zone and fed Joffe who rang a shot off the left post to tie the game.
Calverley needed :36 more seconds to give RIT (3-2-1-0) the lead with his team-leading sixth tally of the season. On the forecheck, Gonsalves forced a giveaway behind the LIU net and the Tigers were on their way.
10:23 to go in the second – Elijah Gonsalves gives @RITMHKY a 3-1 lead pic.twitter.com/sfRw2VSRaw
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) December 12, 2020
“Last night I thought we were a little unlucky,” Wilson said of the 4-3 loss to LIU. “I thought we had some good looks at the goal. Tonight they were just effort goals. They just went in.
“Tonight was more a wake-up call to be perfectly honest with you. Coming off their win, I thought they had some momentum. They had some confidence, and they came out and played like that. We were still unsure, a little frustrated with things. They blocked a lot of shots. I just thought our effort level picked up.’
Ian Andriano made 23 saves for the win in his first start of the season. The senior goaltender turned away 11 shots including a pair of breakaways in the first period.
“Ian was outstanding tonight, particularly in the first,” Wilson noted. “He gave up the one but it was a deflection. I thought he played very well.”
Kobe Walker and Jake Hamacher added a goal apiece in third period both coming on the power play. The Tigers struggled early with a man advantage failing to get a shot on net during their first two power plays.
3:20 Kobe Walker converts on the power play to give @RITMHKY a 4-1 lead. pic.twitter.com/iWP0AGlgnv
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) December 13, 2020
Playing this weekend without Caleb Moretz, Ryan Nicholson and Andrew Rinaldi forced lineup changes.
Wilson spoke about those adjustments.
“We jockeyed our lineup around and moved a second-unit power play guy to the first,” he explained. “The penalty killing is the energy part, though. I think that’s where we missed our depth a little bit. We had two extra guys, so we’re trying to double shift someone to give them some ice time, but you’re gassing the guy you’re double-shifting.”
Jordan Di Cicco scored the lone LIU goal. The Sharks (2-2-0-0) in their first year of existence as hockey program, opened the season with a win over Holy Cross.
RIT is scheduled to return to Atlantic Hockey action next weekend with a home-and-home against Canisius.
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