| 11/5/2004 9:38:07 PM

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ROCHESTER, NY -- The #6 RIT (2-1-0, 1-0-0 ECAC West) men's hockey team scored five second period goals en route to a 6-1 win over ECAC West rival #12 Hobart College (1-1-1, 0-1-0 ECAC West) on Friday evening at Ritter Arena. Senior co-captain Jason Chafe (Stoney Creek, Ont./Burlington Cougars) (Stoney Creek, Ontario) led the Tigers with three assists and George Eliopoulos (Markham, Ont./St. Michaels Buzzers) (Markham, Ontario) made 29 saves for the Tigers.

The first period was all about the goalies. Hobart fired 13 shots in the first all of which were stopped by Eliopoulos. Despite getting three power plays RIT's offense generated just four shots on net that Adam Lavelle stopped. The Tigers penalty kill unit was excellent as they stopped all four power plays by the Statesmen.

RIT got on the board first at 3:07 of the second period. Jason Chafe (Stoney Creek, Ont./Burlington Cougars) had a big hit inside Hobart's zone and passed the puck over to Tony Bifulco (Falmouth, Maine/Tulsa Crude) (Falmouth, ME). He skated in and deeked several defensemen, beating Lavelle on the near side with a wrist shot for a 1-0 lead.

RIT's lead lasted just 21 seconds when Edward Poirier handcuffed Eliopoulos off a pass from Jeff Bostic, tying the score at 1-1. Bostic hit Poirier with a cross-ice pass inside RIT's zone. His shot got up and in on Eliopoulos who got a shoulder on it but the puck trickled past him.

At 6:33 of the second freshman Darrell Draper (/Cowichon Caitals) (Portland, OR) gave RIT the lead for good. Chafe drove deep in the zone and threaded a pass to Draper who one-timed it past Lavelle for his first collegiate goal and a 2-1 Tigers lead.

After Eliopulos' save on Tyler Dufour the Tigers answered with three straight goals breaking the game open. Matt Smith (Toronto, Ont./Kitchener Dutchmen) (Toronto, Ontario) made it 3-1 with his power play goal at 14:26 on an assist from Tony Bifulco (Falmouth, Maine/Tulsa Crude).

Marc Hyman (Thornhill, Ont./Thornhill Rattlers) (Thornhill, Ontario) ripped a shot from the point at 15:01 that was tipped and found the back of the net , giving RIT a 4-1 lead. Ricky Walton (Hamilton, Ont./Hamilton Kilty Bees) (Hamilton, Ontario) and Matt Smith (Toronto, Ont./Kitchener Dutchmen) had the assist on the play.

Freshman Simon Lambert (Ste.-Therese, Quebec/Cumberland Grads) (Ste.-Therese, Quebec) rounded out the scoring in the second period when he took a pass from Jason Chafe (Stoney Creek, Ont./Burlington Cougars) and beat Lavelle through the five-hole for a 5-1 RIT lead.

Eliopoulos continued his strong play in the third period as he stopped all 11 shots he faced. At 16:30 he made a pad save on Conor Bradley from close in. At 14:38 Adam Scott picked up the puck off a turnover in the RIT zone and skated in alone on Eliopoulos who made the glove save.

Tristan Fairbarn (Innisfill, Ont./Newmarket Hurricanes) (Innisfill, Ontario) rounded out the scoring for RIT at the 10:20 mark of the third. Senior co-captain Michael Tucciarone (Richmond Hill, Ont./Stouffville Spirit) (Richmond Hill, Ontario) fed Fairbarn who was to the left of the goal. The sophomore forward fired a shot that beat Dimitri Papaevagelou for his first goal of the season.

RIT held Hobart scoreless on 12 power play opportunities while the Tigers power play went 2-10 on the evening.

George Eliopoulos (Markham, Ont./St. Michaels Buzzers) made 29 saves in net for RIT, earning his second win of the season. Jason Chafe (Stoney Creek, Ont./Burlington Cougars) finished the night with three assists and Darrell Draper (/Cowichon Caitals) had a goal and an assist.

RIT wil host Utica College on Saturday evening at 7 p.m.