Men's Hockey | 12/12/2009 9:55:24 PM

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ROCHESTER, NY – The RIT men's hockey team (9-6-1) had its 10-game unbeaten streak snapped by visiting Niagara, 3-2 in front of a sellout crowd at Ritter Arena on Saturday.  RIT lost for the first time in 49 days.

Paul Zanette scored two goals to lead the Purple Eagles.  Egor Mironov scored the game-winning power-play goal with 14:06 left in regulation to snap a 2-2 tie.

With Niagara on a five-minute power-play, Mironov tipped in a pass from in tight from Chris Moran after RIT goaltender Jared DeMichiel (Avon, CT/) made two excellent saves in a row.  Moran and Ryan Olidis assisted on the tally.

RIT's Stevan Matic (Burnaby, British Columbia/) tied the game at 2 just 19 seconds earlier, ripping down the left wing with Scott Knowles (Riverside, Ontario/) on a shorthanded 2-on-1 break.  Matic used Knowles as a decoy and blasted a hard slap-shot over the glove hand of Noonan for his second goal of the season.  Chris Tanev (Toronto, Ontario/) and DeMichiel assisted on the goal.  It was RIT's second shorthanded goal of the season.  It was DeMichiel's second collegiate assist.

RIT had a handful of good chances late, but Niagara goaltender Chris Noonan protected the lead to earn his first collegiate win.  Noonan stopped 30 shots, and kept the Purple Eagles in the game, especially late in the second period when RIT dominated play.

The Tigers out-shot Niagara 32-24.  DeMichiel made 21 saves, snapping a personal nine-game unbeaten streak.  It was the first time he allowed more than two goals in 10 games.

Brent Alexin (West Seneca, NY/) also scored for RIT, who are now 0-4-0 in non-conference play this season.  Alexin was also assessed a five minute major penalty for kneeing, and a game misconduct early in the third period.

RIT struggled with the man-advantage, going 0-for-7.  Niagara was 1-for-6.

RIT Head Coach Wayne Wilson thought his team fairly well, but tried to make the perfect play throughout the contest, instead of shooting more.

"I thought we were the better team tonight," said Wilson.  "In the second period, we really dominated play.  We refused to shoot the puck in certain situations, which hurt us.  I thought we were a little sloppy in handling the puck on the power-play.  Overall, however, I am really happy with where we are at this time of the year."

The Purple Eagles broke a 1-1 tie just 1:39 into the third period, as Zanette tallied his second of the contest, once again converting on a rebound, while open in front.  His shot from in tight got past a diving DeMichiel, who made the initial save on a shot by Marc Zanette.  Bryan Haczyk also assisted on the goal.

Niagara tallied the lone goal of the opening period, 5:36 into the contest. C.J. Chartrain's point shot deflected off a Tiger defenseman, right to Paul Zanette who was all alone in front. Zanette slid the puck around DeMichiel and into the open net for his fifth goal of the season.

Nine of RIT's 11 shots in the period came on its four power-play attempts. Tyler Brenner (Linwood, Ontario/) had RIT's best chance, as he was face-to-face with Noonan in tight. Noonan stuck his right pad out to make the save and preserve the lead.

The Tigers dominated most of the second period, and were rewarded midway through the frame, as Alexin tied the game at 1, completing a tic-tac-toe three-way passing play. Matic cycled the puck down low to Scott Knowles (Riverside, Ontario/) at the side of the net, who in one motion, whipped a pass to a streaking Alexin in front. Alexin's low shot eluded Noonan for his first tally of the year.

RIT kept pressuring Niagara and nearly took the lead on a few occasions, but Noonan was there to keep the game tied. Noonan robbed Tyler Mazzei (Kelowna, British Columbia/) with a great glove save on a rush, then made a big stop on Matic who was alone in front after receiving a pass from behind the net.

DeMichiel had to come up big in the final seconds of the frame, making a big save on a deflection in front by Ryan Olidis as time ran out in the period.

RIT out-shot the Purple Eagles 12-5 in the period and held a 23-13 edge after two periods of play. Niagara fired the first two shots of the period, making the shots 11-10 RIT. Niagara then went 10 minutes without putting a shot on DeMichiel.

Tonight's sellout was RIT's second of the season, and third straight against Niagara since RIT moved to Division I in 2005.

RIT is 2-6-3 all-time against the Purple Eagles, and 0-4-1 since 2005. The Tigers haven't defeated Niagara since Feb. 8, 1997.  Last season, Niagara handed RIT its worst loss of the year, 6-2 at Dwyer Arena on Nov. 7, 2008.

The Tigers last lost to Air Force, 3-2 in overtime, on Oct. 24.

The Tigers return to action on Jan. 1-2, 2010, as they venture west to play a pair of games at Minnesota State University