Men's Hockey | 11/5/2011 10:04:00 PM

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ROCHESTER, NY – The RIT men's hockey team (2-3-2, 1-2-2 AHA) scored four unanswered goals to rally from a 3-1 second period deficit and defeat visiting Army (0-4-2, 0-2-1 AHA), 5-3 in front of a sellout crowd of 2,100 fans at Ritter Arena on Saturday.

Chris Haltigin (Oakville, Ontario/) scored the game-winning goal on the power-play 1:18 into the third period, firing a shot through traffic past Army goaltender Rob Tadazak inside the right post.  Ben Lynch (Blaine, MN/Lincoln Stars) and Adam Hartley (West Vancouver, British Columbia/Surrey Eagles) assisted on the goal, Haltigin's first of the season.

The goal was the first power play tally in 21 chances for the Tigers. 

RIT's penalty-killing was excellent, thwarting all five Army power-play attempts.  RIT has now killed off 20 straight power-plays dating back to the second period against Union on Oct. 22.

Brad McGowan (Langley, British Columbia/Surrey Eagles) scored the insurance marker for the Tigers at the 12:01 mark, converting a rebound in tight after Matt Garbowsky (St. George, Ontario/Powell River Kings) and Taylor McReynolds (Sherwood Park, Alberta/) were stopped in close.  The goal was McGowan's second of the weekend.

RIT goaltender Jordan Ruby (Tavistock, Ontario/Wellington Dukes) was stellar in the final period, stopping all 16 shots he faced, including several big saves to earn his first collegiate win.  Ruby made 32 saves overall.

RIT's win overshadowed a huge effort by Army's Andy Starczewski, who recorded the natural hat-trick for the Black Knights.  He was named the game's second star.

RIT out-shot Army 37-35.  Tadazak made 32 saves in defeat for the Black Knights.

Senior forward Mark Cornacchia (Unionville, Ontario/) scored a big shorthanded goal and added an assist for the Tigers to be named the game's first star.  Haltigin tallied a goal and two assists, while Adam Hartley (Crofton, MD/Baystate Breakers)recorded a goal and an assist.  Cameron Burt (Detroit, MI/) also scored for the Tigers, who extend their unbeaten streak against the Black Knights to 10 games.

RIT Head Coach Wayne Wilson was happy his squad was able to comeback tonight.

“I thought it was a big character win for us tonight,” said Wilson.  We got down 3-1 and haven't scored a lot of goals lately, but we did a great job getting back into the game.  The shorthanded goal by Mark (Cornacchia) gave us a big boost.  Our penalty-killing was really good all weekend and defense looked a lot fresher, having six in the lineup for the first time in a while.”

RIT had several great chances in the first period, out-shooting Army, 17-8, but went to the dressing room tied at 1-1.

Hartley got RIT on the board at the 7:15 mark, taking a nifty feed from Cornacchia in the slot and putting a shot past Tadazak on the short side for his second goal of the season.  Haltigin started the play by hitting Cornacchia with a pass in the neutral zone, garnering the second assist.

Cornacchia had two excellent chances while RIT was shorthanded moments later, but was denied by Tadazak both times.  He came in on a breakaway and tried to make a move, but was thwarted, then Taylor McReynolds (Sherwood Park, Alberta/) fed him off a giveaway, and was denied once again.

With RIT buzzing late in the period, Tadazak made a save that bounced to Bill Day, who attempted a clearing pass that jumped over a Tiger defenseman's stick at the blueline, sending Starczewski and Danny Colvin in on a 2-on-1.  Starczewski came in, used Day as the decoy and ripped a shot past Ruby for his second goal of the season.

Starczewski struck twice in a span of 4:12 early in the second period, as the Black Knights jumped out to a 3-1 lead before the frame was six minutes old.  Starczewski made it 2-1 taking a nice feed from Colvin from in front and beating Ruby, who had little chance. 

Starczewski, a native of nearby Whitesboro, completed the natural hat-trick by ripping a shot off the rush over the shoulder of Ruby from the left face-off circle.

Cornacchia cut the Army lead to 3-2 with his Division I team record fifth career shorthanded goal at the 11:33 mark.  Haltigin fed Cornacchia with a great breakout pass that sprung a 2-on-1 with McReynolds.  Cornacchia was shooting all the way and beat Tadazak from in close on the right wing.

Just 2:13 later Burt was the recipient of a turnover caused by Adam Mitchell (Crofton, MD/Baystate Breakers) at the Army blueline,  Mitchell tipped a pass to Mike Colavecchia (Maple, Ontario/Lindsay Muskies), who quickly fed Burt, who found himself on a breakaway.  With Alex McRae charging fast and then throwing his stick at Burt, the senior forward went to the forehand and barely snuck a shot between the pads of Tadazak to tie the game at 3.

Burt had hit the crossbar on a breakaway earlier on the shift.  McRae was given a penalty for throwing the stick on Burt's goal, as a new NCAA rule was passed this season allowing a team that scores on a delayed penalty to be awarded the power-play on the ensuing penalty.

Last night, the two teams played to a 2-2 tie.  Army goaltender Ryan Leets made 40 stops, while the Black Knights rallied from a 2-0 third period deficit for the draw.  Brad McGowan (Langley, British Columbia/Surrey Eagles) and Cornacchia scored RIT's goals.

RIT is 9-2-5 all-time against Army and now have a 10-game unbeaten streak against the Black Knights, dating back to Nov. 15, 2008. 

The Tigers had scored just four goals in their previous four games before busting out with the five tonight.

The Tigers return to action on Friday, as they host conference foe Air Force in a single game at 7:05 p.m.