For game stats, click here

RYE, NY - The RIT men's hockey team, ranked fifth in the nation, had its three-game winning streak snapped on Saturday evening, losing to ninth-ranked Manhattanville by a score of 5-4 in front of 546 fans at the Playland Ice Casino.

Wade Richardson scored twice for the Valiants, while Zeke Hume tallied the game-winning goal early in the third period on a breakaway.

 

Junior defenseman Marc Hyman (Thornhill, Ont./Thornhill Rattlers) (Thornhill, Ont.) scored two goals and added an assist to lead the Tigers offensively.  He tied the game at 2 just 1:49 into the second period on the power-play.  Hyman then cut the Valiants lead to 5-3 with 5:30 to go in the game, ripping a slap shot from the right point into the top corner of the net.  Hyman now leads the Tigers with five goals in 2004-05.

 

The Tigers grabbed a 1-0 lead just 1:26 into the contest while enjoying a 4-on-3 man advantage.  First-year forward Matt Smith (Toronto, Ont./Kitchener Dutchmen) (Toronto, Ont.) collected a rebound off a shot from Hyman in front of the Valiants net and stuffed it into the top corner for his third goal of the year. 

 

Manhattanville struck back at the 9:39 mark of the period on the pwer-play as Richardson was left alone in front of the Tigers net.  He received a pass from behind the cage and one-timed it past George Eliopoulous (Markham, Ont.) to tie the game at 1.

 

The Valiants took a 2-1 lead into the intermission as Jason Murfitt snuck home a shot from in the slot on the power-play.

 

After Hyman tied it a 2, Scott Goheen gave the Valiants their second lead of the night, sneaking behind the Tigers defense on a delayed penalty, and converting on the breakaway.

 

RIT thought they had the game tied late in the second period when Brad Harris (Portage La Prairie, Man./Leamington Flyers) (Portage La Prairie, MAN) jammed a loose puck past the Valiants goaltender, but the play was blown dead by the referee before the puck crossed the goal line.

 

Trailing 3-2 going into the third period, the Tigers had a golden opportunity to tie the game, when awarded a power-play at the 5:48 mark. Unfortunately for the Tigers, Manhattanville won the draw and Richardson snuck behind the Tiger defense, beating Eliopoulous on a breakaway to up the Valiants lead to two goals.

 

Down 5-2 late in the third period, the Tigers showed that they wouldn't quit, as Hyman's second goal of the night cut the lead to 5-3.  While shorthanded with just 2:12 left in regulation, junior Brent Macovi (Stoney Creek, Ont./Hamilton Kilty Bees) (Stoney Creek, Ont.) found classmate Brian Payant (Antioch, IL/Fairfield University) (Antioch, IL) on a two-on-one and Payant made no mistake, going top shelf to make it 5-4.  The Tigers however, took a second minor penalty late and ended the game down a man, extending their winless streak at the Playland Ice Casino to three games.

 

Senior forward Michael Tucciarone (Richmond Hill, Ont./Stouffville Spirit) (Richmond Hill, Ont.) and junior defenseman Tony Bifulco (Falmouth, Maine/Tulsa Crude) (Falmouth, ME) recorded two assists apiece.  Jason Chafe (Stoney Creek, Ont./Burlington Cougars) (Stoney Creek, Ont.) picked up his team-leading seventh assist of the season.  Eliopoulous finished with 32 saves in goal.

 

There were 33 minor penalties called in the game.  RIT was 2-or-11 with the man advantage, while Manhattanville finished 2-for-12 on the power-play.

 

Manhattanville (3-0-0, 3-0-0 ECAC West) takes over sole possession of first place in the ECAC West.

 

RIT (3-2-0, 2-1-0 ECAC West) will return to action in two weeks, as the squad travels to play New England College and Williams on November 27th and 28th.