Men's Hockey | 10/19/2013 10:21:00 PM

Box Score

POTSDAM, NY – Two third period goals by Ben Lynch (Blaine, MN/Lincoln Stars) and Mike Colavecchia (Maple, Ontario/Lindsay Muskies) allowed the RIT men's hockey team (0-3-1) to rally from a 3-1 third period deficit and earn 3-3 tie against Clarkson (4-1-1) in front of a capacity crowd of 3,320 fans at Cheel Arena on Saturday night.

It was Colavecchia that got the Tigers on the board in the first with 7:18 remaining with his first of two goals in the game with an assist by Matt Garbowsky (St. George, Ontario/Powell River Kings). After that goal, the Tigers were held in check offensively as they went without a goal for nearly two periods.

Lynch sparked the late rally by RIT with his goal assisted by Nolan Descoteaux (Dallas, TX/South Shore Kings) and Josh Mitchell (Osoyoos, British Columbia/Alberni Valley Bulldogs) on the power-play with 13:10 left in regulation. With 4:33 remaining in the game, Colavecchia gave the Tigers new life with his bullet slap shot from the point into the top right corner of the net past Clarkson goalkeeper Steve Perry. Brad Shumway (Lafayette, CO/Chicago Steel) and Descoteaux assisted on the goal.

Clarkson's three goals came from Jordan Baucher, Sam Labrecque and Troy Josephs, who were active offensively all evening.

RIT goalkeeper Jordan Ruby (Tavistock, Ontario/Wellington Dukes) made 32 saves on 35 shots and kept the Tigers in the game with some spectacular saves, especially later in the contest, to give his team a chance to rally.

"We played a lot better tonight than we did last night," said RIT head coach Wayne Wilson. "We battled back tonight and were more hungry. I thought Ruby played did a great job, especially keeping us in it when we were down 3-1. I thought our power-play looked great tonight as well, but credit the Clarkson defense for playing us well all night."

Early in the game it was all Clarkson as offensive attack was relentless for the first nine minutes of play, which was capped off by a Boucher goal with 11:43 remaining in the period giving them a 1-0 lead. A few minutes later RIT would earn themselves the first power play of the game after a roughing penalty was called on Clarkson defenseman James de Haas. The Tigers would take advantage of the opportunity as Colavecchia's first of two goals squirted past Perry on the right side of the net from Garbowsky.

RIT committed two crucial penalties in the final two minutes, that would allow the Knights to close out the half with a 5-on-3 power-play. Clarkson took advantage as Labrecque scored a goal with just 10.9 seconds left on the clock in the opening period to hold a 2-1 lead after 20 minutes of play.

Clarkson's offense did not let up in the second period. Despite Ruby making a number of great saves, eventually the Knights broke through with a rebound goal right out in front by Josephs that left RIT trailing 3-1 after 40 minutes of play.

The score remained the same into the third period where RIT showed signs of life on offense, putting pressure on the Knights tough defensive unit. With 13:10 to go, Lynch came up big with a goal out right out in front of the net from the right side, closing the gap to 3-2.

The defenses of both teams seemed to clamp down after that, as neither team got too many great looks in the overtime period, which ended with a 3-3 draw.

RIT is now 2-11-3 all time against Clarkson, and 0-5-2 since moving to the Division I level.

The Tigers will look for their first win of the season on the road next Friday, October 25, to take on Penn State in their brand, state of the art, Pegula Ice Arena at 7:05 p.m.