Men's Hockey | 1/25/2013 10:33:00 PM

Box Score

ROCHESTER, NY – Freshman defenseman Brad Shumway (Lafayette, CO/Chicago Steel) scored his first collegiate goal with 5:42 left in regulation to help the RIT men's hockey team (8-10-5, 6-6-5 AHA) skate to a 3-3 tie against the No. 17 Niagara University Purple Eagles (14-4-5, 13-1-2 AHA) in front of a sellout crowd at Ritter Arena on Friday evening. The Tigers now have a season-high four-game unbeaten streak.

With Niagara leading 3-2, Matt Garbowsky (St. George, Ontario/Powell River Kings) won a face-off to Brad McGowan (Langley, British Columbia/Surrey Eagles), who tipped a pass back to Shumway at the right point. Shumway fired a wrist shot through traffic that eluded Niagara goaltender Carsen Chubak for the game-tying goal.

RIT had a handful of great chances late in regulation and then had two golden chances in overtime, including one by Jeff Smith (Spokane, WA/Tri-City Storm) set up by Ben Lynch (Blaine, MN/Lincoln Stars) in front that Chubak barely got a piece of to save the tie for Niagara.

With 37.6 seconds left in regulation, Dan Schuler (Webster, NY/Powell River Kings) was on a partial breakaway and was hauled down by Dan Weiss, but the referees did not award RIT with a penalty shot, but instead were given a power-play. Adam Mitchell (Crofton, MD/Baystate Breakers) had a great chance right off the ensuing face-off from the right side, but Chubak turned that shot away and Niagara cleared the zone and kept RIT off the board for the tie.

RIT out-shot Niagara 36-32 in what was arguably the most exciting game of the year to date, well played on both sides, with a great crowd, and strong, playoff like atmosphere.

Tonight's game was the fourth straight and sixth out of the last seven between the two squads that has gone to overtime.

Brad McGowan (Langley, British Columbia/Surrey Eagles) had a goal and an assist, and Mitchell also scored for the Tigers, while Josh Watson (Lititz, PA/Powell River Kings) made 29 saves.

Ryan Rashid scored a pair of goals to lead the Purple Eagles, who continue to hold a commanding lead in the AHA standings. Marc Zanette also scored, while Chris Lochner added two assists.

RIT was 1-for-4 with the man-advantage, while Niagara was 1-for-3. Only seven minors were called in the contest.

RIT Head Coach Wayne Wilson thought both teams played great this evening and was happy with his team's performance.

“Whenever RIT and Niagara get together, why should we not be surprised when it goes to overtime,” said Wilson. "It was competitive, we all battled hard, and it was a really great college game. I'm proud of the way our guys played tonight. It's good for us to be playing Niagara right now as they're obviously a very strong team. They've done a good job protecting what they have earned so far."

Both teams scored first in a hotly contested first period of play in which both teams scored once. RIT had the better of the chances in the period, out-shooting the Purple Eagles, 10-8.

RIT had a great chance halfway through the period, as Shumway made a great pass from his own goal line to spring Adam Hartley (West Vancouver, British Columbia/Surrey Eagles) on a mini-breakaway. He thought he had Chubak beat through the legs, but the Niagara goaltender shut the pads just in time, looking behind him.

RIT got on the board during a wild sequence with 2:51 left in the period to take a 1-0 lead. Just as a power-play expired, Shumway made a perfect pass to Josh Mitchell (Osoyoos, British Columbia/Alberni Valley Bulldogs), who had Chubak deked with nothing but an open net in front, but he fanned on his backhand attempt. Niagara tried the clear, but the defenseman broke his stick, with the puck going right to Lynch. Lynch tipped a pass back to Nolan Descoteaux (Dallas, TX/South Shore Kings) at the point. Descoteaux's shot deflected in off McGowan's stick in front for his sixth goal of the season.

Niagara got the goal right back just 1:13 later, as Rashid came flying into the zone and whistled a shot wide. Unfortunately, the rebound came off the back glass right back to Rashid, who was crashing the net, and was able to tuck the puck inside the post past Watson.

Niagara scored the only second period goal on a power-play, 8:50 into the frame after RIT was whistled for too many men on the ice. Zanette was the beneficiary of a nice passing play in front after RIT failed to clear the puck. Ryan Murphy found Patrick Divjak, who whistled a pass across to Zanette, who put the puck past Watson at the side of the net for his fifth goal of the season.

RIT generated several good chances late in the period, but were unable to beat Chubak. Lynch and Chris Saracino (St. Louis, MO/Green Bay Gamblers) had point-blank chances stuffed by the Niagara goaltender in the final minute.

Earlier in the period, the line of Mitchell, Mike Colavecchia (Maple, Ontario/Lindsay Muskies), and Hartley buzzed around with three great chances on a shift, with Hartley firing the final chance of Chubak's mask from the slot.

In the third period, RIT tied the game at 2-2 at the 4:56 mark, as a blast by Mike Colavecchia (Maple, Ontario/Lindsay Muskies) from the right circle deflected off the shin of Mitchell and past Chubak for his ninth goal of the season. Chris Saracino (St. Louis, MO/Green Bay Gamblers) also assisted on the goal, his team-best 15th helper of the year.

Niagara responded right back just under three minutes later, after Colavecchia was hit with a high stick and down on the ice in obvious pain, Niagara sped off on a 2-on-1. Dan Kolenda waited out the sliding RIT defenseman and slid a cross-ice pass to Rashid, who was all alone at the left side of the net. Rashid made no mistake, roofing a shot over a sliding Watson for his second of the game.

Tonight's game was the second of three between the two schools this season. On Dec. 12, the two teams skated to a 2-2 tie at Niagara. Lynch scored twice for the Tigers, while Watson made 44 saves. The Tigers are just 3-9-8 all-time against the Purple Eagles and 1-7-6 in the Division I era, but have a four-game unbeaten streak against them. RIT has never won at Dwyer Arena, going 0-5-4.

RIT is now 11-15-2 all-time against teams ranked in the USCHO.com Division I Top-20 poll.

The two teams conclude their regular season series on Saturday night, this time at Niagara's Dwyer Arena.