Men's Hockey | 1/29/2011 10:46:01 PM

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ROCHESTER, NY – The RIT men's hockey team (13-8-6, 12-3-5 AHA) extended its AHA unbeaten streak to 11 games (7-0-4) with a 3-3 tie against Mercyhurst in front of a sellout crowd at Ritter Arena on Saturday evening. Mercyhurst rallied from a 3-1 third period deficit to tie the game. Paul Chiasson tied the game with exactly one minute left in regulation.

With Mercyhurst goaltender Ryan Zapolski pulled for the extra attacker, the Lakers were able to keep the puck in RIT's zone. The puck came behind the net to Mike Gurtler, who quickly found Chiasson all alone in front. Chiasson was able to chip the puck over RIT goaltender Shane Madolora (Salinas, CA/) for his second goal of the game to send the game to overtime.

RIT had some great chances in the overtime, but could not solve Mercyhurst goaltender Ryan Zapolski. Scott Knowles (Riverside, Ontario/) just missed the far post on a rush, while Chris Haltigin (Oakville, Ontario/) fired a slap shot from the slot that Zapolski made a big save on. RIT ended the game with 55 seconds of power-play time, but could not convert.

The Tigers led 2-1 heading into the final period, when Tyler Brenner (Linwood, Ontario/) gave RIT a two-goal lead, 4:19 into the period, jamming home his own rebound for his second of the game and 20th of the season, while the two teams were playing 4-on-4. Greg Noyes (Lucan, Ontario/Salmon Arm Silverbacks) and Chris Saracino (St. Louis, MO/Green Bay Gamblers) assisted on the goal.

The Tigers got themselves into penalty problems soon after, as the Lakers had a full two minutes of a 5-on-3, then a separate 1:09 two-man advantage later in the period, which RIT was able to kill off.

Mercyhurst would cut the Tiger in lead in half on a 5-on-3 at the 11:55 mark, as Phil Ginand was able to tip a shot from Ryan Raven past Madolora in close.

The Lakers out-shot RIT, 47-33, including 16-4 in the third period. RIT did have eight shots in overtime.  Mercyhurst was 1-for-8 with the man-advantage, while RIT was 1-for-6.

Madolora was spectacular for the Tigers, stopping 44 shots. His best save of the game came midway through the third period, while Mercyhurst was on a full two-minute 5-on-3 power-play. Pitt was all alone in front and tried to tap the puck in, but Madolora stuck his pad out to make a dazzling save.

The sophomore goaltender extends his season-long unbeaten streak to 16 games. He is now 11-0-5 this season.

Brenner led the way for RIT with two goals, giving him 20 on the season, as he becomes the third Tiger at the Divison I level to reach that milestone. Chris Saracino (St. Louis, MO/Green Bay Gamblers) dished out a pair of assists.  Adam Hartley (West Vancouver, British Columbia/Surrey Eagles) also scored for RIT.

Zapolski made 30 saves in the tie, including eight in overtime.

RIT Head Coach Wayne Wilson thought the Tigers were far too undisciplined in the third period, allowing Mercyhurst to earn the tie.

“Mercyhurst came at us hard all game, and I was glad to get a point,” said Wilson. “We took some really poor penalties in the third period. Once we got the two-goal lead, our lack of discipline caught up to us. I hope we learned our lesson that we have to stay composed.”

The goaltenders stole the show during a scoreless, but fast-paced, up-tempo first period of play, with Mercyhurst out-shooting RIT, 16-11.

Zapolski made a handful of big saves in the period, his best coming when Nolan Descoteaux (Dallas, TX/South Shore Kings) snuck in from the blue-line to take a feed from Cameron Burt (Detroit, MI/). Descoteaux tried to slip the shot between Zapolski's legs, but the Mercyhurst goaltender was able to make the big save.

Madolora was tested often, making a great save on Scott Pitt on a stuff-in attempt from in close on a power-play. He also made a big stop on Steve Cameron from point-blank range later in the period.

The Tigers scored twice, sandwiched around a Mercyhurst goal to take a 2-1 lead after 40 minutes of play.

Brenner put the Tigers on the board first at the 12:07 mark of the second period, blasting with his 19th goal of the season, on the power-play, as he tipped a shot by Saracino through a screen and past Zapolski. Brenner out-muscled a defender for the puck down low and fed Ben Lynch (Blaine, MN/Lincoln Stars). Lynch found Saracino open in the high slot and Brenner was able to deflect the puck past Zapolski.

Just 42 seconds later, the Lakers tied the game, as Chiasson took a perfect feed from Scott Pitt on a 2-on-1 and was able to beat Madolora, who slid across the crease but could not get across fast enough. Taylor Holstrom also assisted on the goal, Chiasson's 13th of the year.

Hartley gave RIT its lead back at the 14:41 mark, using every bit of his 6-foot-3 frame to lunge and tip a pass from Burt past Zapolski on the rush for his ninth goal of the season. It was Hartley's first goal in the last 10 games.

The Tigers nearly made it 3-1 on a power-play late in the period, as Saracino ripped a shot from nearly the exact place he scored from earlier in the period that rang off the crossbar.

Taylor McReynolds (Sherwood Park, Alberta/) became the first Tiger since moving to Division I in 2005 to eclipse 100 penalty minutes in a season. He now has 115 in 26 games this season.

Tonight's contest was the third and final regular season meeting between the two clubs this season. RIT won the two previous meetings, both at Mercyhurst by identical 4-2 scores on Dec. 10-11. RIT is now 27-13-5 all-time against the Lakers, 11-4-2 since moving to Division I in 2005-06.

RIT has a 15-game unbeaten streak (12-0-3) at Ritter Arena against AHA foes dating back to last season.

RIT returns to action next weekend, as they host AHA rival Air Force in a pair of games. Both Friday and Saturday's contests get underway at 7:05 p.m.