Men's Hockey | 1/7/2011 9:58:19 PM

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WEST POINT, NY – The RIT men's hockey team earned a point on the road with a 1-1 tie at Army in Atlantic Hockey Association action on Friday night at Tate Rink. With the tie, RIT improves to 10-8-3 overall and 9-3-2 in the AHA.

RIT Associate Head Coach Brian Hills was pleased with the effort by the Tigers. “I thought we did a lot of good things offensively,” stated Hills. “We've got to clean up a few things defensively, but overall I was pleased with the effort.”

In a scoreless first period, RIT killed off all four of the Army power plays including two 5-on-3 chances late in the period. The first was 1:23 in length and the other was 31 seconds. The Black Knights only managed one shot on net.

The Tigers failed to score on their only power play chance of the first period.

Army held an 8-7 advantage on shots in the first period as RIT goaltender Shane Madolora (Salinas, CA/) had a solid first period, stopping all eight shots he faced.

Army opened the second period with the lion's share of the chances, firing five shots on Madolora. Fortunately for the Tigers, the sophomore netminder and AHA Goaltender of the Month in December, was up to the task and stopped all five.

Junior forward Scott Knowles (Riverside, Ontario/) gave the Tigers a 1-0 lead with a short-handed goal at 5:59 of the second period. He broke up a pass at the point and he and Taylor McReynolds (Sherwood Park, Alberta/) broke in two-on-one. Knowles fed McReynolds who slid a nifty pass right back to Knowles who one-timed the puck into the open Army net.

For Knowles, it was his third goal of the season and McReynolds' ninth helper.

The Black Knights had a 13-11 advantage in shots in the second period.

RIT opened the third period with two 5-on-3 opportunities (:41, 1:13), but failed to score on either. The Tigers are now 1-for-11 with the 5-on-3 man advantage this season.

Army tied the score at 9:24 of the third period on a goal by Cody Omilusik. The Tigers failed to clear the puck out of their own zone, and Omilusik capitalized on a misplayed puck in front of the RIT net by Madolora, tucking it into the net.

“I thought the third period was our best period,” said Hills. “We generated some good chances but their goalie made some good stops.”

Freshman Michael Colavecchia had a real good scoring chance early in the overtime. He whistled a one-timer wide of the net on a cross-ice pass from Cameron Burt (Detroit, MI/).

Burt and Ben Lynch (Blaine, MN/Lincoln Stars) broke in two-on-one later in the overtime session. Burt's shot was on target but off the goaltender Ryan Leets' face mask.

RIT came into tonight having won five straight over Army and are now 7-2-4 all-time versus the Black Knights.

RIT was out shot by the Black Knights 39-27. Both teams were scoreless with the man advantage as RIT went 0-for-3 and Army was 0-for-6.

Madolora, who has not lost this season, made 38 stops for the Tigers and ups his record to 8-0-2 on the season.

Ryan Leets made 26 saves in net for Army who move to 5-12-2 overall and 4-6-2 in the AHA.

These same two teams will play on Saturday night at Tate Rink on the campus of West Point. Face-off is at 7:05 p.m.