| 1/10/2004 10:06:49 PM

ROCHESTER, NY -- The 13th ranked RIT men's hockey team took it to #7 Curry College, 9-1 this evening at Ritter Arena. The difference in the game was special teams as RIT scored on four of eight power play opportunities and held Curry scoreless on 10 tries.

Curry controlled much of the play in the first part of the opening period. However, RIT was able to get the game's first goal and never looked back. That came at the 13:44 mark of the first when Michael Tucciarone (Richmond Hill, Ont./Stouffville Spirit) (Richmond Hill, Ont.) made a tremendous individual effort and scored, giving RIT a 1-0 lead. Curry answered back less than two minutes later when Manu Mau'u took a pass from Chad Pillsbury and beat George Eliopoulos (Markham, Ont./St. Michaels Buzzers), tying the score at 1-1. From that moment on RIT controlled the game. With a touch under four minutes to play in the first, Darren Doherty (Duoro, Ont./Cobourg Cougars) (Douro, Ont.) scored what would prove to be the game-winning goal on assists from Tony Bifulco (Falmouth, Maine/Tulsa Crude) (Falmouth, ME) and Marc Hyman (Thornhill, Ont./Thornhill Rattlers) (Thornhill, Ont.). Tucciarone rounded out the first period scoring with his second goal of the night with the assist going to Ryan Fairbarn (Innisfil, Ont./Georgetown Raiders) (Innisfill, Ont.).

RIT kept the pressure on in the second period, lighting the lamp four times. The first came from captain Mike Tarantino (Oakville, Ont./Oakville Blades) (Oakville, Ont.) on the power play at 7:13 on assists from Ryan and Tristan Fairbarn (Innisfill, Ont./Newmarket Hurricanes). Freshman Steve Farrer (Belle River, Ont./Chatham Jr. Maroons) (Belle River, Ont.) tallied his first collegiate goal at 9:15 of the second on assists from Tucciarone and Ryan Francke (Long Point, Ont./St. Thomas Stars) (Long Point, Ont.). Roberto Orofiamma (Woodbridge, Ont./Vaughn Vipers) (Woodbridge, Ont.) made it 6-1 Tigers with his even strength goal at the 15:34 mark of the second. Bryan Payant (Antioch, IL) rounded out the second period scoring with his goal at 19:36 with the assists going to Roberto Orofiamma (Woodbridge, Ont./Vaughn Vipers) and Mike Walling (Oxford, Mich./Chatham Maroons) (Oxford, MI).

The third period saw 14 penalties called, seven on each team. The two RIT goals were scored by Tristan Fairbarn (Innisfill, Ont./Newmarket Hurricanes) and Adam George (LaFayette, N.Y./Syracuse Stars) (Lafayette, NY). Fairbarn's goal came on the power play at 8:55, while George's goal was an even strength goal at 12:28. George Eliopoulos (Markham, Ont./St. Michaels Buzzers) turned in another outstanding performance against Curry, making 30 stops.

RIT was led by Michael Tucciarone (Richmond Hill, Ont./Stouffville Spirit) who had four points on two goals and to assists. Mike Tarantino (Oakville, Ont./Oakville Blades) added a goal and three assists, while Adam George (LaFayette, N.Y./Syracuse Stars), Tony Bifulco (Falmouth, Maine/Tulsa Crude), Ryan Fairbarn (Innisfil, Ont./Georgetown Raiders) and Roberto Orofiamma (Woodbridge, Ont./Vaughn Vipers) all had a pair of points. The Tigers out shot Curry 35-31.

RIT is on the road for two games next week. On Tuesday RIT travels to Cortland State for a 7 p.m. start. Saturday the Tigers travel to Fredonia State for a 7 p.m. start against the Blue Devils.