Men's Hockey | 12/3/2010 9:48:22 PM

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WEST SPRINGFIELD, MA - Sophomore goaltender Shane Madolora (Salinas, CA/) made 16 saves to record his first collegiate shutout, as the RIT men's hockey team (6-6-2, 5-2-1 AHA) put on a dominating performance in defeating conference foe American International, 4-0 at Olympia Ice Center on Friday evening.

RIT dominated from the opening faceoff, scoring 14 seconds in and never looked back.  The Tigers out-shot American International, 42-16.  The 16 shots allowed are the second fewest ever allowed by the Tigers at the Division I level.

Tyler Brenner (Linwood, Ontario/), Mike Janda (Glen Ellyn, IL/), Adam Mitchell (Crofton, MD/Baystate Breakers), and Scott Knowles (Riverside, Ontario/) scored for the Tigers, who are back to .500 for the first time this season.  RIT's defense was dominating, allowing just 16 shots.  They held the Yellowjackets without a shot for nearly a 20-minute stretch spanning the second and third periods. 

Madolora needed to make just 16 saves for his first shutout, RIT's first of the 2010-11 season.  He is now 4-0-1 this season overall and 4-0 in AHA play.  The sophomore goaltender has a sensational 1.48 goals against average and .944 save percentage in AHA play.

Ben Meisner was solid in net for the Yellowjackets, stopping 38-of-41 shots. 

RIT was 0-for-3 with the man-advantage, while holding American International scoreless on two power-play attempts, including a major with three minutes left that lasted the rest of regulation.  RIT has now killed off 17 straight power-plays.

The Tigers scored their second shorthanded goal in the last three games.

RIT Head Coach Wayne Wilson was very pleased with his team's performance.

"I thought that we controlled the game from start to finish," said Wilson.  "It was our most complete 60 minutes of the season.  We got off to a great start, Shane (Madolora) played very well, our defense moved the puck well all game, and our forwards were able to bury their chances."

Brenner got RIT on the board just 14 seconds in, taking a feed from Favot and ripping a shot past Meisner for his team-best 10th goal of the season.

Janda made it 2-0 RIT at the 3:49 mark of the period off an assist from Mark Cornacchia (Unionville, Ontario/).  Mitchell put the game away for the Tigers midway through the third period, deflecting a shot from Michael Colavecchia past Meisner.  Chris Saracino (St. Louis, MO/Green Bay Gamblers) also assisted on the goal.

Knowles tallied RIT's second shorthanded goal of the season, an empty-netter with just 40 seconds left to conclude the scoring.

The Tigers have won six straight against American International, and are 15-2-1 all-time against the Yellowjackets. 

RIT is 6-2-1 over its last nine games.

The two teams conclude their season series on Saturday at 4:05 p.m.