Men's Hockey | 11/9/2013 10:17:00 PM

Box Score

MOON TOWNSHIP, PA – The RIT men's hockey team (1-5-2, 1-2-0 AHA) picked up its first win of the 2013-14 season, receiving contributions from everyone in the lineup to defeat host Robert Morris University (1-6-1, 1-1-1 AHA) by a score of 4-2 from 84 Lumber Arena at the Robert Morris Island Center on Saturday evening.

Ben Lynch (Blaine, MN/Lincoln Stars) led the way with a goal and an assist, while Matt Garbowsky (St. George, Ontario/Powell River Kings) had a pair of assists. Todd Skirving (Thunder Bay, Ontario/Sioux Falls Stampede), Greg Noyes (Lucan, Ontario/Salmon Arm Silverbacks), Josh Mitchell (Osoyoos, British Columbia/Alberni Valley Bulldogs) scored for the Tigers. Skirving's goal was the first of his collegiate career.

In net, Jordan Ruby (Tavistock, Ontario/Wellington Dukes) was excellent in net, stopping 37 of 39 shots to pick up the victory. He made 11 saves in the first period, 15 in the second, and 11 in the third period.

RIT's special teams unit was sensational, killing off all five Robert Morris power-play attempts, including a five-minute major in the third period, given to Brandon Thompson (Vancouver, British Columbia/Handsworth) for hitting from behind at the 5:39 mark of the third period, with the Tigers up 4-1. Ruby made his best save on the power-play on Cody Wydo, who tried a stuff in attempt in front.

The Tigers power-play went 2-for-3, scoring a pair of goals with the man-advantage 1:13 apart in the second period.

David Friedmann and Evan Moore scored for the Colonials. In net, Penfield native Terry Shafer stopped 24 of 28 shots in just under 32 minutes of play before being pulled in the second period. Brandon Lane made four saves in 26 minutes of work. Wydo entered tonight's game as the nation's leading scorer, with 10 in seven contests, including seven over his previous two games.

Robert Morris out-shot RIT, 39-32, including 12-3 in the final period.

RIT head coach Wayne Wilson thought his team did many little things to get the job done tonight.

"I thought we had a similar effort (to our last two games), we did not allow any soft goals, and the penalty killing unit was tremendous tonight," said Wilson. "Our power-play did a great job as well, and we were able to put everything together to get the win. We have a long way to go, with 24 more league games, so things can turn around quickly."

RIT played a very strong first period, out-shooting the Colonials, 19-11 and scoring the lone goal.

The line of Anthony Hamburg (Phoenix, AZ/Omaha Lancers), Andrew Miller (Chicago, IL/Chicago Steel), and Brad Reid (Delta, British Columbia/Coquitlam Express) had two great shifts right off the start, generating a handful of quality chances. Dan Schuler (Webster, NY/Powell River Kings) had a point-blank chance get smothered by Shafer on a 3-on-2 chance from the slot.

RIT would get on the board at the 14:59 mark, as Lynch would slip around a Colonials defender on the rush, cut in and slip a shot past Shafer for his fourth goal of the season. The play started back in the RIT zone, when Brad Shumway (Lafayette, CO/Chicago Steel) poked the puck off a Robert Morris forward in the corner. The puck came to Thompson, who broke out with Lynch on a 2-on-2 break. Thompson fed Lynch at the Robert Morris blue line and the senior forward did the rest, making a nice move around Shafer for the goal.

Robert Morris had a close call late in the period, as a blast from the right circle from Matt Cope deflected off Ruby and just wide.

The Tigers, despite giving up 16 shots, scored three times in the second period to take a commanding 4-1 lead after 40 minutes of play.

Just 28 seconds into the second period, Skirving ripped a shot from the high slot past Shafer for his first collegiate goal. Garbowsky won a face-off right back to Alexander Kuqali (Pittsburgh, PA/Sioux City Musketeers) at the left point. Kuqali made a quick pass to Skirving, who fired a slapper through traffic to give the Tigers a 2-1 lead.

Robert Morris would regroup and hold play in the RIT zone for a good chunk of the first half of the period. The Colonials were rewarded at the 5:42 on a delayed penalty, as Friedmann tipped in a pass from in tight from Daniel Leavens past Ruby for his second goal of the year. Chase Golightly also assisted on the goal.

Unlike last night, where Mercyhurst scored on its power-play after scored a delayed penalty goal, the Tigers were able to keep the Colonials off the board thanks to a few big saves by Ruby, including one on a partial breakaway from Greg Gibson.

RIT would get two power-play goals in a span of 1:13 to up its lead to 4-1.

Noyes tallied his first of the year at the 10:58 mark, as he snuck behind the Colonials defense on the left side, took a feed from Garbowsky and beat Shafer with a backhander from right in close. Garbowsky won the draw toMike Colavecchia (Maple, Ontario/Lindsay Muskies), who fed Garbowsky down low. RIT's junior captain made a perfect cross-ice pass to Noyes, who was all alone in tight.

Josh Mitchelll would get his first of the season from the slot 1:13 later. Lynch and Ben McGowan worked the puck down low, with McGowan finding Mitchell in the slot. Shafer would get a piece of the shot, but it trickled over the goal line for the RIT tally.

That goal chased Shafer, who was pulled in favor of Brandon Lane.

RIT is now 4-5-3 all-time against Robert Morris and 2-4-1 all-time at 84 Lumber Arena. They have won the last two games at that venue.  The Tigers went 1-2-0 against Robert Morris last season.

Last night, the Tigers fell at Mercyhurst by a score of 3-2. Garbowsky and Colavecchia scored first period goals for the Tigers, who out-shot the Lakers, 39-33. Ruby stopped 30 shots in defeat.

RIT is off next weekend, but return to action on Tuesday, Nov. 19 with a contest at AHA rival Canisius. The opening puck drop at Buffalo State Ice Arena is at 7:05 p.m.