ROCHESTER, NY – Despite a hard-fought effort the RIT men’s hockey team lost to Quinnipiac University, 4-1 in front of 1,528 fans at Ritter Arena this evening. The Tigers battled throughout the contest but were unable to capitalize on their scoring chances.

”We put forth a really strong effort tonight,” said head coach Wayne Wilson. “The difference we didn’t capitalize on our chances and they did.”

The lone goal of the first period came at the 5:37 mark by Quinnipiac. The Bobcats forecheck pinned RIT into their zone. Chris Myers took a shot that Jocelyn Guimond (St.-Edouard-de-Lotbiniere, PQ/Williams Lake) (Quebec City, PQ) saved. Mark Agnew very smartly crashed the net and scored when he poked the puck into an open net as Guimond was out of position.

The Bobcats had another good chance but Brian Leitch’s chance was blocked away by a sprawling Bobby Raymond (Lucknow, ON/Owen Sound Greys), keeping the game 1-0. RIT was out shot 12-9 by Quinnipiac in the first period.

The second period saw a lot of action but no score. RIT fired eight shots on goal, while the Bobcats also had eight shots. Both goalies were sharp in the second period. Jocelyn Guimond (St.-Edouard-de-Lotbiniere, PQ/Williams Lake) stymied the Bobcats making several saves that were hard look easy.

The Tigers had four power play chances in the second period but were unable to capitalize on any of them. Quinnipiac did not core on their only extra-man chance of the second.

 

Quinnipiac got on the scoreboard first in the third period. RIT’s Steve Pinizzotto (Mississauga, ON/Oakville Blades) (Mississauga, ON) had a couple of good scoring chances deep in Quinnipiac’s zone but Bud Fisher made the saves. Brennan Sarazin (Nepean, ON/Nepean) (Nepean, ON) had a chance at an open net but missed the net. Quinnipiac cleared the puck out quickly and Brian Leitch and Jamie Bates broke in on Guimond. Leitch fed a pass to Bates who one-timed it past Guimond for a 1-0 lead.

RIT made it 2-1 at 6:26 of the third on a breakaway goal by Ricky Walton (Hamilton, ON/Hamilton Red Wings) (Hamilton, ON). Matt Smith (Toronto, ON/Kitchener Dutchmen) (Toronto, ON) sent a long clearing pass up to Walton who utilized his speed and broke past the defender
and beat Fisher for his third goal of the season and second in as many nights.

 

Quinnipiac made it a two-goal lead at the 16:24 mark of the third period on a great individual effort by David Marshall. He stole the puck from Justin Hofstetter (Bright, ON/Cambridge Winterhawks) (Bright, ON) who was attempting to clear the puck. Marshall shook off a defender and snuck the puck over Guimond’s shoulder, making it 3-1.

Michael Bordieri added an empty-net goal with 1:12 to play, making it 4-1.

The Tigers showed a tremendous amount of energy out shooting Quinnipiac 30-28. RIT went 0-8 on the power play, while the Bobcats went 0-3.

Jocelyn Guimond (St.-Edouard-de-Lotbiniere, PQ/Williams Lake) was outstanding in net for RIT, making 24 saves. Bud Fisher turned in a sparkling performance for Quinnipiac, making 29 saves.