Men's Hockey | 10/23/2010 10:02:09 PM

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SCHENECTADY, NY – No. 18 Union (5-1-0) scored three first period power-play goals en route to the early lead, and never looked back, handing the RIT men's hockey team (0-4-1) a 7-2 loss in non-conference action at Messa Rink in front of 1,912 fans on Saturday evening. Tyler Brenner (Linwood, Ontario/) scored a pair of power-play goals for RIT.

Union received a 58 second two man advantage just 1:56 into game, tallied once there and two more times on the power-play in the period and never looked back, adding two in the second, and two in the third period en route to the win.

Both of Brenner's goals came late in the third period. Andrew Favot (King City, Ontario/) and Chris Haltigin (Oakville, Ontario/) had two assists apiece for the Tigers.

Brenner got RIT on the board with 3:42 left in regulation, jamming in a rebound after Favot redirected a point shot from Haltigin past Union goaltender Keith Kinkaid. The goal was Brenner's fourth of the season.

Brenner scored a power-play goal with 21 seconds left, slamming a rebound past Kincaid for his team-leading fifth tally of the season. Haltigin attempted a shot that was blocked, with the rebound going to Favot. His shot was stopped by Kincaid, but Brenner was all alone in front to clean up the rebound, scooping the shot into the top corner of the net.

Both teams fired 28 shots on goal.

Josh Watson (Lititz, PA/Powell River Kings) got the start in net for RIT and made some incredible saves, despite allowing five goals on 22 shots over the first two periods of play. Shane Madolora (Salinas, CA/) replaced Watson in the third period and made four saves.

Adam Presizniuk and Matt Hatch scored two goals apiece to lead Union. Kincaid stopped 26 shots for Union, who finished 3-for-5 with the man-advantage.

RIT Head Coach Wayne Wilson was pleased with his team's effort despite acknowledging that the early deficit put them in a tough hole.

“We wanted to compete hard tonight, after not competing at all last night (at Rensselaer),” said Wilson. “We got in penalty trouble early, and got down 3-0, which made it hard to get going. Playing 5-on-5, I would not have wanted to change too much from tonight's performance. Union is a very skilled team and are playing as well as anyone right now.”

The Tigers found themselves two-men down for 58 seconds just 1:56 into the contest, and Union made them pay, getting a goal from Wayne Simpson on a tap-in play down low that Watson had absolutely no chance on.

Stephane Boileau made it 2-0 Union at the 7:23 mark, taking a feed from Daniel Carr in the slot off a busted play and ripped a shot over the shoulder of Watson from in tight.

Presinziniuk scored Union's third power-play goal of the period, deflecting a point-shot past Watson.

RIT had several chances in the period, including a point-blank chance by Sean Murphy (Owatonna, MN/) in close after he stripped the puck from a Union defenseman. Kinkaid was up to the task, making a sharp glove save.

The Dutchmen added two second period even strength goals to make it 5-0 after two periods.
RIT held a territorial advantage for chunks of the period, but could not get anything past Kincaid. Favot was robbed by Kincaid on a scramble in front. Trevor Eckenswiller (Lions Head, Ontario/) ripped a shot off the post off the rush.

Union scored two third period goals against Madolora, both from in tight off of defensive breakdowns.

The Tigers are now 12-5-3 all-time against the Dutchmen. RIT and Union were strong Division II and III rivals in the 1980's and early 90's. They have faced each other four times since RIT moved to Division I, with Union holding a 3-0-1 advantage.

Last night, the Tigers fell to Rensselaer, 4-1. Cameron Burt (Detroit, MI/) scored RIT's lone goal, while #Jan Ropponen made 27 saves.

It is the second straight season that RIT has gone winless in its first five games. Last season, the Tigers lost their first five games before going 28-7-1 the rest of the way to make a glorious run to Frozen Four.

The Tigers return to action on Friday, Oct. 29, as they host Robert Morris University in their 2010-11 Ritter Arena and Atlantic Hockey Association debut.