| 12/30/2003 10:47:21 AM

ROCHESTER, NY -- For the first time in the program's history the RIT men's hockey team shut out arch rival Elmira College, 4-0 on Friday night at Ritter Arena. RIT came into the game ranked ninth in the latest USCHO.com Division III poll, while the Soaring Eagles were 13th. Sophomore goalie George Eliopoulos (Markham, Ont./St. Michaels Buzzers) (Markham, Ont.) recorded his first collegiate shut out making 24 saves.

RIT set the tone in the first period as the Tigers took control of the game right from the opening face off. RIT put shot after shot on Elmira netminder Greg Fargo from every angle. Fargo was sharp as he made some spectacular saves, keeping the game scoreless. The Tigers finally broke through late in the period when senior Mike Walling (Oxford, Mich./Chatham Maroons) (Oxford, MI) scored on assists from Brad Harris (Portage La Prairie, Man.) and Mike Tarantino (Oakville, Ont./Oakville Blades) (Oakville, Ont.) at the 19:34 mark, giving RIT a 1-0 lead heading into the first intermission.

The Tigers kept the pressure on in the second period, firing 19 shots on Elmira's net. Brian Payant (Antioch, IL) made it 2-0 RIT when he scored on a rebound shot from Darren Doherty (Duoro, Ont./Cobourg Cougars) (Douro, Ont.) at the 12:47 mark of the second. Doherty and Payant broke away on a 2-on-1. Doherty rared back and fired a slap shot that came right to Payant off the pads of Fargo. George Eliopoulos (Markham, Ont./St. Michaels Buzzers) made nine saves in net for RIT in the second keeping the score 2-0 heading into the second intermission.

Senior tri-captain Matt Moore (Burlington, Ont./Brampton Capitals) (Burlington, Ont.) made it 3-0 RIT early in the third when he scored his second goal of the season on an assist from Roberto Orofiama (Woodbridge, Ont.). The Tigers made it 4-0 with 8:18 to play in the third when Michael Tucciarone (Richmond Hill, Ont./Stouffville Spirit) (Richmond Hill, Ont.) scored on the power play on an assist from Ryan Fairbarn (Innisfil, Ont./Georgetown Raiders) (Innisfil, Ont.) and Mike Tarantino (Oakville, Ont./Oakville Blades).

RIT out shot Elmira 51-24 and were 1-for-6 on the power play. Elmira goalie Greg Fargo made 47 saves in net for Elmira as the Soaring Eagles went 0-for-7 on the power play.

The Tigers are now 1-1-1 on the season and will host ECAC West foe Utica College on Saturday night at 7 p.m. Elmira drops to 1-3-1 on the season.