| 4/15/2006 4:21:09 PM

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PITTSFORD, NY -- Andy Ruocco (Corning, NY/Corning East)'s (Corning, NY/Corning East) goal with 3:17 remaining in regulation capped off a six-goal run by the Tigers and proved to be the game-winner as #7 RIT defeated arch rival and fifth ranked Nazareth College, 12-11 on a sunny afternoon at Nazareth. Ruocco was Johnny on the Spot as he picked up a loose ball at the side of the net, scoring his third goal of the game.

After Nazareth took a 1-0 lead Colin Jesien (Cambridge, MD/Cambridge-S. Dorchester) (Cambridge, MD/Cambridge-S. Dorchester) tied the game with an unassisted goal at 7:43 of the first quarter.

Scott Farress (Webster, NY/Webster) (Webster, NY/Webster) scored the first of his four goals of the day with 4:37 to play in the quarter giving RIT a 2-1 lead. Wes Adam (Lafayette, NY/Lafayette) (Lafayette, NY/Lafayette) scored on a feed from Zach Bednarz (Webster, NY/Webster) (Webster, NY/Webster) extending RIT's lead to 3-1.

Nazareth made it 3-2 on a goal by Chad Amidon with 12 seconds remaining in the opening quarter.

Ruocco gave the Tigers a two-goal lead early in the second quarter with his first goal of the afternoon. That made the score 4-2.

The Golden Flyers showed why they are one of the top teams in the country as they ran off four straight goals in the second quarter, taking a 6-4 lead into half time.

Both goalies were sharp in the first half. John Foley (Guelph, ON/Our Lady of Lourdes) (Guelph, ON/Our Lady of Lourdes) made nine saves for RIT and Pat Mullin made 11 saves for Nazareth.

RIT scored the first two goals of the third quarter. Ruocco cut the Golden Flyers lead to 6-5 on an assist from Jesien.

Farress tied the score at 6-6 on a neat assist from Eric Pritchard (Webster, NY/Webster) (Webster, NY/Webster). Pritchard threaded a pass to Farress and he turned and scored on a well-placed shot over Mullin's shoulder.

The Golden Flyers rattled off four straight goals and looked to have the game under control, leading 10-6 late in the third quarter.

David Demuth's (Jordan, NY/Jordan-Elbridge) man-up goal on an assist from Ruocco, cut Nazareth's lead to 10-7 with 1:35 remaining in the third quarter.

Demuth's goal was the start of the six-goal run by RIT that took the momentum away from Nazareth and moved it to RIT's side.

Farress opened the scoring in the fourth quarter. His goal made it 10-8 with 12:12 remaining. Wes Adam (Lafayette, NY/Lafayette)'s second goal of the game cut Nazareth's lead to 10-9. David Thering (Fairport, NY/Fairport) (Fairport, NY/Fairport) tied the game at 10-10 on an assist from Bednarz.

Farress' fourth goal of the day gave RIT their first lead since early in the contest with the assist going to Ruocco.

With 3:17 remaining Ruocco picked up a loose ball on a botched clearing attempt by the Golden Flyers. He dislodged the ball from underneath Mullin's stick, scooped up the ball and whisked a shot over his shoulder giving RIT a 12-10 lead.

Jordan Hisch cut RIT's lead to 12-11 with 2:04 remaining on an assist from Bryan Adams.

Nazareth had a man-up opportunity inside the last minute of play but RIT's defense was outstanding, blocking shots and clearing the ball down the field as time ran out.

Ruocco finished with five points on three goals and two assists. Farress had four goals and David Thering (Fairport, NY/Fairport) added a goal and two assists.

Thering now has 272 career points and needs just three points to tie Ben Hunt's career scoring record of 275 points.

John Foley (Guelph, ON/Our Lady of Lourdes) was outstanding in net for RIT, making 14 saves and allowing 11 goals.

Thering and Phil Davenport (Linganore, MD/Linganore) (Linganore, MD/Linganore) each had nine ground balls. Davenport seemed always in the right position at the right time.

Jacob Brunner (Lafayette, NY/Lafayette) (Lafayette, NY/Lafayette) won 6-of-13 face-offs and Jacob Cannan (Irondequoit, NY/Irondequoit) (Rochester, NY/Irondequoit) won 4-of-14.

RIT hosts Utica College on Wednseday, April 19 at 4 pm on RIT Field.