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COLORADO SPRINGS, CO – Josh Frider’s goal with 39 seconds left in regulation lifted the Air Force Falcons (4-5-1, 2-1-1 Atlantic Hockey) to a 4-4 tie versus the RIT men’s hockey team (3-4-2, 3-1-1 AHA) on Saturday evening before 1,407 fans at Cadet Ice Arena.

 

Air Force dumped the puck into the RIT zone, two RIT players collided at the line, as the puck fell to Brent Olson.  He found a streaking Frider, who put the puck past Jocelyn Guimond (Quebec City, PQ/Williams Lake) (Quebec City, PQ) from the slot for the equalizer.

 

The goal spoiled a splendid effort by Guimond, who made 41 saves.

 

RIT was shorthanded 10 times in the game to just three for Air Force.  The Tigers killed of 9-of-10 Air Force attempts with the man advantage.

 

In the overtime, RIT found themselves shorthanded again.  Guimond came up big on a broken play, smothering a shot in front by Brian Reese, who tallied earlier in the game.

 

RIT Head Coach Wayne Wilson was much more pleased with his team's effort tonight.

 

"I was pleased that we fought hard," said Wilson.  "We took too many penalties.  All that time on the penalty kill took a lot out of us late."

 

The Tigers came out with much more emotion and were very physical early on, throwing a handful of thunderous body checks. 

 

The hard work paid off, as Anton Kharin (Moscow, Russia/Bay State Breakers) (Twin Lake, MI) gave the Tigers a 1-0 just 1:36 in, swatting home a rebound past Ian Harper, who was out of position on the play.  Ricky Walton (Hamilton, ON/Hamilton Red Wings) (Hamilton, ON) had the initial forecheck and forced a turnover.  Kharin took a shot toward the net that was stopped.  Walton and Brad Harris (Winnipeg, MB/Leamington Flyers) (Winnepeg, MB) had a shot stopped.  The rebound came back to Kharin in the slot and he put it away for his fourth of the season.

 

Air Force quickly struck back with two straight goals before the period was 10 minutes old to take a 2-1 lead.  Josh Frider spun around in front and put a low shot between Guimond’s legs to tie the game at 1 7:10 in.  Mike Phillipich gave the Falcons a 2-1 lead 2:44 later, as he buried a rebound past Guimond, who made the initial save on a shot by Eric Ehn.

 

The Tigers fought back to tie the game with 4:43 left in the period, as Matt Smith (Toronto, ON/Kitchener Dutchmen) (Toronto, ON) scored on a wraparound for his fifth of the year.  Darrell Draper (Tigard, OR/Cowichon Capitals) (Tigard, OR) and Brent Alexin (West Seneca, NY/Buffalo Jr. Sabres) (West Seneca, NY) assisted on the goal.  Alexin’s assist was the first of his collegiate career.

 

That goal chased Harper, who was unable to keep the Tigers off the board like he did the night before.

 

Air Force out-shot RIT 14-9 over the first 20 minutes of play.

 

RIT took a 3-2 lead 2:46 into the second period, as Alexin tallied his first collegiate goal, as he crashed the Air Force net and poked home a rebound past Andrew Volkening.  Jesse Newman (Westbank, BC/Trail Smoke Easters) (Westbank, BC) and Smith drew assists on the play, as they both crashed the net and caused a rebound.

 

Once again, the Falcons drew even, this time on the power-play, as Brian Reese was all alone in front, and he put the loose puck past Guimond with 13:34 left in the second.

 

Brennan Sarazin (Nepean, ON/Nepean Raiders) (Nepean, ON) gave RIT its third lead of the game 1:16 to play in the second, as he took a pass from Steve Pinizzotto (Mississauga, ON/Oakville Blades) (Mississauga, ON) in the neutral zone, skated in on a 2-on-1, waited out the Air Force defenseman and snuck a wrist shot past Volkening for his third of the year.  Dan Ringwald (Oakville, ON/Oakville Blades) (Oakville, ON) also assisted on the goal.

 

Guimond was solid in the period, stopping 17-of-18 shots, as the Tigers got themselves into penalty trouble.

 

Guimond made the save of the game with 9:40 left in regulation, as he robbed Josh Schaffer, who split two Tiger defenseman and was in all alone and tried to go high.

 

Air Force out-shot RIT 45-18.  The duo of Harper and Volkening combined to make 14 saves for the Falcons.

 

This was the sixth meeting in the last two seasons between the two schools.  Overall, Air Force leads the all-time series 5-4-2. 

 

Last night, the Falcons defeated RIT 3-0, handing the Tigers their first loss in Atlantic Hockey play.

The Falcons and Tigers meet two more times this season, Feb.9 and Feb. 10 at Ritter Arena.

RIT hosts its annual Skate With the Tigers event at 8 p.m. on Friday.  On Saturday, the Tigers host St. Clair College in an exhibition game at 7 p.m.