By TIM IRVING
For just the third time this season, RIT’s men’s hockey team was shut out. And though Atlantic Hockey Association leading American International won 7-0 Friday night at the Gene Polisseni Center, Tiger’s coach Wayne Wilson didn’t seem daunted after the game.
“I didn’t think we played that poorly. That sounds crazy at 7-0 but it wasn’t that bad.”
The Yellowjackets scored on a three-on-two just 24 seconds into the game when defenseman Nico Somerville moved up on the rush and scored on Kolby Matthews.
At 8:38 of the first, Chris Theodore made a move inside the blue line and backhanded the puck between Matthews’ pads for a 2-0 lead.
Three minutes later, Grand Island native Blake Bennett pumped a shot from the circle home on a power play for AIC and it was 3-0 and Matthews’ evening was over.
“You can’t give up those goals, because I didn’t think we played poorly in the first period, I know what the scoreboard’s going to say, everyone looks at that but we didn’t have a bad first period, “Wilson said.
The Tigers gave up four power plays in the first period, including a five minute major late, with Chris Dodero scoring with 7.9 seconds left and a 4-0 deficit.
RIT came out with some jump in the second period, Nick Bruce sent a puck to the front that Kobe Walker tipped but goalie Alec Calvaruso closed the pads.
Later in the second, Jake Joffe got free on a break and Calvaruso stoned him as well.
“The second period was better but we need to score a goal or two to cut it to 4-2,” Wilson said.
14 seconds into the second period, the Tigers trying to come out of their own zone but Justin Young stuck a stick out and deflected it past Tommy Scarfone.
RIT was out-shot just 30-26 but couldn’t stop the Yellowjackets (14-5 in the AHA) from winning for the 12th time in 13 games.
“We’ve gotta move on and I think they see some spots in their game that they weren’t too bad,” said Wilson about his squad.
The same two play again at 5:05 on Saturday night.
“There’s no style points, “ Wilson said. “They got seven tonight and got three points. If (we) win 1-0 tomorrow tonight, we get three, so it doesn’t matter. We just have to find a way to get three points tomorrow.”
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