Men's Hockey | 1/2/2010 10:37:19 PM

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MANKATO, MN – The RIT men's hockey team (9-8-1) dropped its second game of the weekend, and third straight overall, falling to Minnesota State University (11-9-2), 3-0 at the Verizon Wireless Center on Saturday evening.

Zach Harrison dished out three assists for the Mavericks, who out-shot RIT, 36-20. Ken Mouillierat, Geoff Irwin, and Justin Jokinen scored for Minnesota State.  Phil Cook earned the shutout, stopping all 20 RIT shots he faced.

Minnesota State's defense stymied RIT all weekend.  It was the first time RIT was shutout this season, and first in 42 games, dating back to Dec. 5, 2008.

Freshman goaltender Shane Madolora (Salinas, CA/), making his second collegiate start, shook off a tough first period to make 33 saves. He was especially sharp over the final two periods of the contests, stopping 27-of-28 shots.

RIT's power-play struggled for the fifth straight game, going 0-for-5, and allowing its fifth shorthanded goal of the season.  RIT is 1-for-26 with the man-advantage over that five-game span.

RIT Head Coach Wayne Wilson thought the effort was much better tonight, and hopes the tough weekend series will help the Tigers prepare for the rest of the season.

"We competed much harder tonight, but unfortunately, the execution was not there offensively, especially from our power-play," said Wilson.  "Shane (Madolora) played well and gave us a chance.  The power-play was the difference.  We get a five-minute opportunity, and you hope to get it to 1-1, but instead give up a shorthanded goal and get down 2-0.  We need to use this weekend as motivation to play harder, and execute as we hit conference play."

The Tigers received a power-play 10 seconds into the game, but were unable to convert. Right after RIT's power-play, Minnesota State went to the man-advantage, and scored 3:24 into the game, as Mouillierat took a pass from Ben Youds just behind the right face-off circle and rocketed a shot past Madolora to the glove side, making it 1-0 Mavericks.

RIT had a golden chance to tie the game midway through the period, getting a five-minute power-play after Mark Cornacchia (Unionville, Ontario/) was elbowed violently in the head by Minnesota State's Tyler Pitlick. Pitlick was also ejected from the game.

Stevan Matic (Burnaby, British Columbia/) came bursting up the middle, made a tremendous deke on a defenseman, went in alone on Cook, but the puck dribble off his stick and went wide. Cameron Burt (Detroit, MI/) was robbed point-blank, as the Tigers struggles on the power-play continued.

The Mavericks upped their lead to 2-0 on the same RIT power-play, as Zach Harrison found a streaking Geoff Irwin wide open in front of Madolora. Irwin one-timed Harrison's pass before Madolora could react, burying the shot at the 12:12 mark to make it 2-0.

Despite getting out-shot 18-6 in the second period, RIT had a handful of excellent scoring chances. The Mavericks scored the lone goal of the frame to take a 3-0 lead after 40 minutes of play.

The line of Andrew Favot (King City, Ontario/), Tyler Brenner (Linwood, Ontario/), and Tyler Mazzei (Kelowna, British Columbia/) combined for RIT's three best chances in the period. Brenner was denied in close early in the frame. Favot had a few good chances in close that were unable to find the back of the net. Mazzei had RIT's best chance of the period, all alone in the slot, but he wrist shot sailed wide of the right goal post.

Justin Jokinen gave the Mavericks a 3-0 lead with 6:11 left in the period. Harrison took a shot from the slot that Madolora turned away. Rylan Galiardi crashed the net and attempted another shot that Madolora pushed aside. Jokinen was following on the play, took the puck out of a scrum in tight and lifted the puck over a fallen Madolora for the goal.

Madolora kept RIT in the game during the period, stopping 17 shots, including several from in close. He made two excellent saves on Jerad Stewart from the slot at the tail end of a Mavericks power-play.

Mazzei nearly broke up the shutout in the final frame, sliding a puck past Cook from a scramble in front off a rebound from a shot by Favot.  Cook was able to lean back and sweep the puck away as it hit, but did not cross the goal line.  The play was reviewed, but stood.

Madolora made his best save of the night, robbing Irwin on a 4-on-0 breakaway while RIT was on a late power-play.  Irwin tried a head fake and went to the forehand, but Madolora stood his ground and kicked the puck aside.

This weekend's games were the first between the two teams since Dec. 6, 1986, when both schools were at the Division III level. In 1983, the Tigers dispatched then Mankato State to advance to the NCAA semifinals. The Tigers would eventually win the 1983 NCAA Division II Championship.  The all-time series between the two schools is tied, 3-3-0.

Tonight's game was RIT's final non-conference game of the season. RIT was winless in six non-conference contests.  The Tigers are now 5-2-0 all-time on January 2.

RIT will play its final 16 games of the season against Atlantic Hockey foes. Next weekend, the Tigers return home to the friendly confines of Ritter Arena, as they host Holy Cross in a pair of games. Both Friday and Saturday's contests get underway at 7:05 p.m.