Men's Hockey Defeats New England College

Joe Venniro - Assistant Sports Information Director

Jason Chafe had a goal and an assist as RIT downed N.E. College 5-2.

| 11/28/2004 1:40:33 AM

HENNIKER, NH - The RIT men's ice hockey team, ranked tenth in the nation, scored the first four goals of the game en route to a 5-2 win over New England College on Saturday evening.

Senior forward Jason Chafe (Stoney Creek, Ont./Burlington Cougars) (Stoney Creek, ONT) led the Tigers with a goal and two assists. He set up RIT's first and third goals, and closed out the Tiger scoring with his first goal of the season midway through the third period to give the Tigers a 5-1 lead. Chafe now leads the Tigers with 11 points, and is among the leaders in Division III with 10 assists.

It did not take long for the Tigers to jump on the scoreboard, as sophomore Brad Harris (Portage La Prairie, Man./Leamington Flyers) (Portage La Praire, MAN) picked up a rebound in front of the Pilgrims net from a J.R Holmes (Toronto, ONT) shot and deposited it into the open net just 17 seconds into the contest to give RIT a 1-0 lead.

The Tigers ran into penalty trouble soon after, but held their ground, successfully killing off five first period New England power-plays, including two, two-man disadvantages.

RIT took a 2-0 lead midway through the opening stanza, when Tristan Fairbarn (Innisfill, Ont./Newmarket Hurricanes) (Inisfill, ONT) scooped up a loose puck in front of the Pilgrims net and scored his second goal of the season.

Senior Michael Tucciarone (Richmond Hill, Ont./Stouffville Spirit) (Richmond Hill, ONT) made it 3-0 just 30 seconds into the second period, as he jammed in a rebound from in front of the Pilgrims net.

Less than two minutes later, junior defenseman Tony Bifulco (Falmouth, Maine/Tulsa Crude) (Falmouth, ME) extended the RIT lead to 4-0. Bifulco corralled the puck just inside the blur-line and whistled a low shot past the Pilgrims goalie. Bifulco also recorded an assist.

Darren Doherty (Duoro, Ont./Cobourg Cougars) (Douro, ONT) recorded two assists, as did Holmes. First-year forward Matt Smith (Toronto, Ont./Kitchener Dutchmen) (Toronto, ONT) and defenseman Matt Harris (Toronto, Ont./Ajax Axemen) (Toronto, ONT) dished out an assist apiece in the win.

The Tigers out-shot New England 46-33, including 23-3 in the second period. New England fired 23 third period shots, but Tiger goaltender George Eliopoulous (Markham, ONT) held his ground, stopping 21 of his 31 saves in the final stanza.

RIT finished 1-of-12 on the power-play, and successfully killed off 13-of-14 New England power-play attempts.

RIT (4-2-0, 2-1-0 ECAC West) is back action on Sunday, as they face-off against Williams College at 4 p.m.