Men's Hockey | 10/24/2008 10:31:20 PM

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MILFORD, CT – The RIT men's hockey team erased a two-goal deficit, earning a 3-3 tie versus Sacred Heart on Friday evening. The Tigers trailed 3-1 going into the third, but tallied two, three-period goals to earn the point in the AHA opener.

Sacred Heart took the lead late in the first period on a goal by Patrick Knowlton. The Pioneers put good pressure on the Tigers and Knowlton poked home a rebound off a shot from Chris Bailer, giving the Pioneers a 1-0 lead.

After a slow start the Tigers picked up the pace, putting pressure on Sacred Heart goaltender Stefan Drew. RIT fired 10 shots on goal in the first period that Drew turned aside.

Sacred Heart took advantage of four power play opportunities, scoring twice in the second period, taking a 3-1 lead.

Eric Giosa made it 2-0 Pioneers with a power play goal less than five minutes into the second. Erik Boisvert made it 3-0 with another power play goal 6:46 into the second.

RIT pulled to within a goal with 52 seconds remaining in the second. Sean Murphy (Owatonna, Minn./Green Bay Gamblers) (Owatonna, MN) took a pass from #Dan Ringwald (Oakville, Ontario/Oakville Blades)# (Oakville, ON) and fired a slap shot from the right point that beat Drew clean in the top corner for his first goal of the season.

RIT stormed back with two third period goals, tying the score at 3-3. Cameron Burt (Detroit, Mich./Green Bay Gamblers) (Detroit, MI) made it 3-2 with a goal 4:23 into the period. He skated in unchecked and beat Drew with a slapshot from in close. Matt Crowell (Kelowna, British Columbia/Williams Lake Timberwolves) (Kelowna, BC) and #Louis Menard (Chicoutimi, Quebec/Ottawa Senators)# (Chicoutimi, PQ) had the assists.

At the 9:01 mark of the third Jesse Newman (Kelowna, British Columbia/Trail Smokeeaters) (Kelowna, BC) ripped a shot from just inside the zone. He took a clearing pass from Mazur and fired a slapper that beat Drew on the glove side. Louis Menard (Chicoutimi, Quebec/Ottawa Senators) had the second assist for the Tigers.

Louis Menard (Chicoutimi, Quebec/Ottawa Senators) made three spectacular saves in the third period, two breaking up 2-on-1 breakaways by the Pioneers. The first he came to his left and stoned Anthony Yelovich with his glove. The next he denied Dave Jarman with a spectacular toe save to keep RIT within a goal.

Menard was outstanding in net for RIT. He finished with 30 saves and added a pair of assists for the Tigers who move to 1-3-1 overall and 0-0-1 in the Atlantic Hockey association.

These same two teams will be in action on Saturday evening beginning at 7:05 at the Milford Ice Arena in Milford, Connecticut.