Men's Hockey | 11/29/2013 7:14:00 PM

Box Score

MILFORD, CT – Seniors Greg Noyes (Lucan, Ontario/Salmon Arm Silverbacks) and Mike Colavecchia (Maple, Ontario/Lindsay Muskies) recorded three points apiece, as the RIT men's hockey team (3-7-2, 2-3-0 AHA) picked up its second straight win, 5-2 over Sacred Heart University (5-8-0, 3-4-0 AHA) at the Milford Ice Pavilion on Friday afternoon.

Noyes recorded a career-high tying two goals and an assist, while Colavecchia added a goal and two assists for the Tigers, who extend their unbeaten streak over the Pioneers to eight (7-0-1). Colavecchia has 14 points (8-6-14) in his last five games against the Pioneers, including a hat-trick on Jan. 14, 2012.

Todd Skirving (Thunder Bay, Ontario/Sioux Falls Stampede) and Dan Schuler (Webster, NY/Powell River Kings) continued their torrid streaks with two points apiece. Skirving had a goal and an assist, while Schuler had two assists. Skirving has nine points over his last four games, while Schuler has the same amount over a five-game stretch.

Anthony Hamburg (Phoenix, AZ/Omaha Lancers) also scored for the Tigers. In goal, Mike Rotolo (Rochester, NY/Cedar Rapids Roughriders) won his second straight start, stopping 26 shots, including 14 of 15 in the third period.

Mitch Nylen and Nick Lotitto scored for the Pioneers. In goal, Alex Vazzano made 35 saves.

RIT was 2-for-6 with the man-advantage, while Sacred Heart was 0-for-3. The Tigers out-shot Sacred Heart, 37-28.

"I am very happy to get the two points in a tough place to play, but overall, I thought we were sluggish for a good portion of today's game," said RIT Head Coach Wayne Wilson. "We had a lot of guys getting beat to loose pucks and we didn't play with a lot of poise. Overall, we need to be better tomorrow and going forward."

The Tigers got off to a sluggish start in the first 10 minutes, but picked up their play as the period wore on, holding a 13-5 edge in shots.

Rotolo had to make two great saves early on. He robbed Ben Lake on a partial breakaway early on, then after making an initial save on David Iacono on another point-blank chance, was bailed out by teammate Danny Smith (Edmonton, Alberta/Sherwood Park Crusaders), who blocked away what looked to be a sure goal by Brian Sheehan on that rebound.

Moments later, Josh Phillips had Rotolo beat off a deflection from the high slot, but the shot bounced off the inside of the right post and out. Coityn Hansen had an open net on a 2-on-1 from right in close, but missed wide.

The Tigers would regroup, generating several good chances of their own later in the period. Schuler had Vazzano beat from the slot, but the shot clanged off the left post and out.

The Tigers would score twice in the second period before Sacred Heart would answer with one in the final minute to go up 2-1 after 40 minutes of play.

Vazzano made two huge saves on a RIT power-play to start the period. He robbed Ben Lynch (Blaine, MN/Lincoln Stars), who was able to walk out of the corner by himself to the slot, and then made a tremendous glove save on Adam Mitchell (Crofton, MD/Baystate Breakers), who walked in alone on a partial breakaway.

RIT would get on the board at the 3:06 mark, just after a power-play ended, as Noyes fired a wrist shot from the high slot that went off the glove of Vazzano and in. Schuler chipped a pass to Colavecchia in the slot, who had his shot go wide. The rebound caromed to Noyes, who was able to record his third tally of the year.

Hamburg made it 2-0 Tigers late in the period, as his bad angle shot from just above the goal line from the left side eluded Vazzano for his first of the season. Good work by Andrew Miller (Chicago, IL/Chicago Steel) and Caleb Cameron (Sunridge, Ontario/Listowel Cyclones) set up Hamburg's tally with 2:35 remaining.

Nylen cut RIT's lead in half with 41.6 seconds left in the period, as he beat Rotolo from in tight on a 2-on-1 after RIT failed to break out of its zone.

The Tigers put the game away with three third period goals, including two with the man-advantage.

Noyes tallied his second of the game with 12:41 left, slipping down low to take a perfect back door feed from Skirving, and beating Vazzano with a backhand in tight to give RIT a 3-1 lead on the power-play. Colavecchia also assisted on the goal.

After Lotitto beat Rotolo in close after a disputed offsides call 56 seconds later, the Tigers responded with two big goals to put the game away.

With 8:51 left, Skirving took a perfect feed from Josh Mitchell (Osoyoos, British Columbia/Alberni Valley Bulldogs) on the rush and beat Vazzano with a backhand to make it 4-2.

Colavecchia would complete the scoring with 4:26 left on the power-play, taking a feed from Noyes and wristing a shot past Vazzano, who was out of position on the play. Alexander Kuqali (Pittsburgh, PA/Sioux City Musketeers) would also assist on that tally.

RIT is 15-4-0 all-time against the Pioneers. Last season, RIT defeated the Pioneers by scores of 5-3 and 5-2 at Ritter Arena.

The Tigers and Pioneers complete their regular season series on Saturday, once again from the Milford Ice Pavilion at 3:05 p.m.