No. 7 Tiger Men's Hockey Snaps Losing Skid With Impressive 8-2 Victory at Hobart

Sam Hill (above) scored four goals in 8-2 win at Hobart and has scored 16 goals in his last 10 games

| 2/1/2003 8:28:22 PM

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GENEVA, N.Y. -- Sam Hill (Strathroy, Ont./St. Thomas Jr. B) scored four goals and Michael Tucciarone (Richmond Hill, Ont./Stouffville Spirit) had a hat-trick to lead the No. 7 Rochester Institute of Technology men's hockey team to an 8-2 victory at Hobart in ECAC West action Saturday afternoon.

RIT (14-3-1, 4-1-0 ECAC West) extended its winning streak against the Statesman to 26-straight games dating back to Nov. 11, 1992 when Hobart (12-7-1, 2-2-0 ECAC West) last defeated the Tigers 5-4 in the Ritter.

Hill recorded his second hat-trick of the season and has now scored 16 goals in the past 10 games and has a 10-game goal-scoring streak.

Hobart came out early and often outshooting RIT 9-2 in the first 10 minutes of the game, but the Tigers capitalized on their opportunities when Michael Tucciarone (Richmond Hill, Ont./Stouffville Spirit) gave RIT a 1-0 lead from Mike Bournazakis (Toronto, Ont./Thornhill Rattlers) 12 minutes into the first period. Then six minutes later Hill connected for one of his four goals on the afternoon from Ryan Francke (Long Point, Ont./St. Thomas Stars) and Bournazakis giving the Tigers a 2-0 advantage at the first intermission.

RIT expanded its lead to 3-0 with Hill's second of the night from Ryan Fairbarn (Innisfil, Ont./Georgetown Raiders) and Bournazakis. Then with five minutes to go in the second period, Hobart leading scorer Craig Levey did what he could do to cut into the Tigers advantage with his 14th goal of the season from William Brame and Andy Kasprzak to make it a 3-1 Tiger lead.

Tucciarone halted any thoughts of a Hobart comeback with his second of the day from Bournazakis and Roberto Orofiamma (Woodbridge, Ont./Vaughn Vipers) and then Bournazakis recorded his first goal of the day to built a commanding 5-1 lead from Francke and David Bagley (Rochester, N.Y./SUNY Geneseo). Bournazakis finished with a goal and five assists and Bagley added two helpers.

RIT goaltender Tyler Euverman (Surrey, B.C./Prince George) allowed two goals, but more importantly recorded 36 saves to record his 11th victory of the year.

The Tigers quest for a fifth-straigh ECAC West title continues at Utica on Friday, Feb. 7 at 7 p.m.