Men's Hockey | 1/16/2009 10:58:17 PM
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ROCHESTER, NY – The RIT men's hockey team (13-9-1, 12-4-1 AHA) scored three goals in a span of 2:53 late in the third period to erase a 3-2 deficit and defeat American International College (4-17-1, 4-12-0 AHA) 5-3 in front of 1,778 fans at Ritter Arena on Friday evening. It is RIT's eighth straight win.
With RIT trailing 3-2 late in the third period, Brennan Sarazin (Nepean, Ontario/Nepean Raiders) (Nepean, Ontario) tipped home a shot from #Tyler Brenner (Linwood, Ontario/Elmira Sugar Kings)# (Linwood, Ontario) past American International goaltender Dan Ramirez to tie the game with 3:43 left in regulation. Alan Mazur (Burnaby, British Columbia/Merritt Centennials) (Burnaby, British Columbia) also assisted on the goal.
Just 1:28 later, American International was assessed a checking from behind penalty. This time, Brenner converted a rebound after Sarazin tipped a point shot from Dan Ringwald (Oakville, Ontario/Oakville Blades) (Oakville, Ontario) that Ramirez stopped. Brenner was to the left side of the Yellow Jackets net and he fired a shot home for his eighth goal of the year.
With the Yellow Jackets net empty and six skaters on the ice, Sarazin out-fought a defenseman along the boards and whistled a shot into the open net for the final goal. Sarazin now leads the Tigers with 12 goals, and has eight points in his last three games.
RIT Head Coach Wayne Wilson did not think the Tigers were as sharp as they have been in past games, but was happy to get the win.
”I didn't think we were very determined and gave up some big-time opportunities, which they did a good job converting,” said Wilson. “Fortunately, we were able to come back, get some late power-plays and take advantage.”
RIT was 2-for-8 on the power-play. RIT struggled on its first six attempts with the man-advantage, mustering just a handful of shots and failing to sustain pressure in the offensive zone.
The Yellow Jackets came out buzzing in the third period. Steve McLeod had a tremendous shorthanded breakaway chance that was folied by RIT netminder Jared DeMichiel (Avon, Conn./Chicago Steel) (Avon, CT).
A few minutes later, McLeod was left alone in front on a 2-on-1 break and tipped home a pass from Mike McMillan to give American International a 3-2 lead. David Turco also assisted on the goal.
Sarazin finished with two goals and an assist, all in the third period. He was named the game's first star. Brenner recorded a goal and an assist and was the second star.
McMillan had three assists in a losing cause for American International. McLeod and Turco added a goal and an assist. Goaltender Dan Ramirez, a Rochester native, stopped 34 shots.
RIT out-shot American International, 39-17, including 28-7 over the final two periods.
DeMichiel stopped 14 shots to pick up his sixth straight win, and ninth of the season. RIT held American International scoreless on four attempts with the man-advantage.
The Tigers held a 2-1 advantage after a fairly evenly played first period, out-shooting the Yellow Jackets 11-10.
American International took an early 1-0 lead just 3:19, as Frankie DeAngelis ripped a wrist shot from the slot on the rush past DeMichiel. RIT was caught in the neuteal zone, allowing American International to streak in with an odd-man rush. McMillan dropped a pass to McLeod, who found a streaking DeAngelis in the slot. DeAngelis fired a shot over the shoulder of DeMichiel for his third goal of the year.
The Tigers evened the score at the 7:09 mark, as The line of Andrew Favot (King City, Ontario/Aurora Tigers) (King City, Ontario), Jesse Newman (Kelowna, British Columbia/Trail Smokeeaters) (Kelowna, British Columbia) and Matt Crowell (Kelowna, British Columbia/Williams Lake Timberwolves) (Kelowna, British Columbia) connected. Favot cycled the puck behind the net, found Newman, who circled the net and fired a pass across the crease to Crowell who jammed the puck home for his 10th goal of the year. The goal came just seconds after a Tiger power-play expired.
RIT kept the pressure up late in the period, and were rewarded, with just 10.5 seconds left, when Mike Janda (Glen Ellyn, Ill./Chicago Steel) (Glen Ellyn, IL) followed up a rebound off a shot by Tyler Mazzei (Kelowna, British Columbia/Nanaimo Clippers) (Kelowna, British Columbia) the eluded Ramirez and hit the post. Scott Knowles (Riverside, Ontario/Surrey Eagles) (Riverside, Ontario) also assisted on the goal.
The Tigers out-shot American International 15-3 in the second period and had several good chances, but could not convert. The Yellow Jackets scored the only goal of the period.
Turco took advantage of a defensive miscue in the neutral zone and sped in on a 2-on-1. Turco was able to cut to the slot and rip a high shot in from in tight over DeMichiel.
The Tigers had several great chances, but could not get any fortunate bounces. A handful of times during the period, pucks were bouncing towards the net that were misplayed. RIT had several point-blank chances that were denied by Ramirez, several in unconventional fashion.
RIT leads the all-time series between the two teams, 11-2-1 and is 8-2-0 against the Yellow Jackets since moving to Division I in 2005. The Tigers went 2-2 against American International last season.
Favot extended his point streak to eight games, while Crowell and Brenner pushed theirs to seven.
The Tigers are now 12-1-0 this season when leading or tied after two periods of play. RIT has scored 38 goals over its eight-game winning streak and has 51 goals in 10 home games this season (8-2-0 at home).
American International's winless streak has reached nine games.
Both teams are right back in action at Ritter Arena on Saturday at 7:05 p.m.
