Men's Hockey | 1/8/2011 9:27:25 PM

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WEST POINT, NY – Five different Tigers scored goals, as the RIT men's hockey team defeated Army 5-2 in Atlantic Hockey Association action on Saturday night. The Tigers pick up three crucial points on the weekend, improving to 11-8-3 overall and 10-3-2 in AHA play.   RIT now has a six point lead over Niagara and Robert Morris for first place in the conference standings.

RIT, the most penalized team in Division I, killed off all 13 Army power plays on the weekend, including seven on Saturday.

Sophomore goaltender Shane Madolora (Salinas, CA/) picked up his ninth win of the season making a career-high 46 saves and allowing just two goals. He came into the game second in all of Division I in winning percentage (.950), and has not lost a game this season.  He is one of two Division I goaltenders (Ryan Rondau of Yale) to have not suffered a loss this season.

“Shane was really good this weekend,” said RIT Associate Head Coach Brian Hills. “He showed a lot of poise, controlled the pucks, got in the right spots and was a key factor in us getting three points.”

Army struck first just 1:55 into the contest on a goal by Drew Pierson. The Black Knights intercepted a clearing attempt by Madolora and got a shot on net. Pierson cleaned up the rebound in front to give Army their first lead of the weekend.

Freshman Ben Lynch (Blaine, MN/Lincoln Stars) answered back for RIT with his first career goal at 11:24 of the first period. Lynch scored off a rush by the Tigers started by Andrew Favot (King City, Ontario/).  Favot fed Tyler Brenner (Linwood, Ontario/) who found Lynch and the freshman jammed the puck home for his first goal as a Tiger.

Mike Janda (Glen Ellyn, IL/) made it 2-1 at 13:11 of the first period on a nice wrist shot off assists from Cameron Burt (Detroit, MI/) and Nolan Descoteaux (Dallas, TX/South Shore Kings). For Janda, it was his seventh tally of the season.

Army held a 19-9 shot advantage after the first period. Madolora made 18 stops as RIT stopped both of the Black Knight's power plays.

Army tied the score at 2-2 at 5:12 of the second period on a goal by Brian Skarda. The Black Knights blocked a shot by Greg Noyes (Lucan, Ontario/Salmon Arm Silverbacks) inside their own zone that started the break. Skarda took a pass from Marcel Alvarez and beat Madolora for his fourth goal of the season.

Sean Murphy (Owatonna, MN/) gave RIT a 3-2 lead at 12:45 of the second period off a face-off inside the Army zone. Mark Cornacchia (Unionville, Ontario/) won the face-off cleanly back to Scott Knowles (Riverside, Ontario/). Knowles fed Murphy who fired a wrist shot that beat Army netminder Ryan Leets to the glove side for his second goal of the season.

RIT took a two goal lead 32 seconds into the third period on Brenner's team leading 16th goal of the season. Brenner, who finished with a goal and an assist, scored off a shot that appeared to fool Army goaltender Ryan Leets and find the back of the net. Daniel Spivak (Thornhill, Ontario/) had the assist on the play.

Freshman Michael Colavecchia made it 5-2 RIT at 5:47 of the third off an assist from Burt. Burt won the puck along the boards and fed Colavecchia who was streaking into the Army goal. Colavecchia fired a wrist over the shoulder of Leets for his fourth goal of the season. For Burt it was his second assist of the game.

Army out shot RIT 48-35 on the night. The Tigers were 0-3 on the power play and held Army to zero goals on seven power play chances.

The Tigers return home next weekend when they take on Bentley University on Friday, January 14 at 7:05 at Ritter Arena.