ROCHESTER, NY – The RIT men's hockey team (4-7-2, 3-5-2 AHC) had its three-game unbeaten streak snapped, falling to visiting Sacred Heart (5-6-2, 4-4-2 AHC), 2-1 in front of 2,578 fans at the Gene Polisseni Center on Saturday night.

Drew George and Jordan Minello scored goals 2:18 apart early in the first period to give Sacred Heart the 2-0 lead and goaltender Andrew Bodnarchuk and the defensive unit made sure that was enough. Bodnarchuk made 25 saves and was named the game's first star.

Andrew Miller (Chicago, IL/Chicago Steel) scored early in the second period for the Tigers. In goal, Jordan Ruby (Tavistock, Ontario/Wellington Dukes) rebounded from the tough early start to make 22 saves on 24 shots. He was the game's No. 2 star.

RIT was 0-for-6 with the man-advantage, while Sacred Heart was 0-for-4. The Tigers held a slim 26-24 advantage in shots on the evening.

The Pioneers were able to keep the leading scorer in the nation, RIT's Matt Garbowsky (St. George, Ontario/Powell River Kings), off the board tonight. Garbowsky entered the game with a 10-game point-scoring streak and Division I leading totals of 11 goals and 19 points.

"I was really disappointed with the leadership of our upperclassmen tonight," said RIT head coach Wayne Wilson. "Our focus was poor. Sacred Heart was much sharper, hungrier, and played with a will to win. I talked to our team about being ready for tonight and nobody answered the bell besides (Jordan) Ruby. We weren't ready to play and they were. We gave away two points in our building tonight."

Sacred Heart came right out and scored twice in span of 2:18 early in the first period to stun the crowd and that was the difference. Just 1:02 in, George fired in a centering pass from Evan Jasper in front, right after Ben Lake won an offensive zone. At the 3:20 mark, the Pioneers took advantage of a RIT turnover in the neutral zone, as Minello took a feed from Justin Danforth and fired the shot from in close off the left post and in past Ruby.

The Tigers would receive three first period power-plays in the period, generating six shots on the man-advantages, but could not convert. Bodnarchuk made his best two saves of the period on the final RIT power-play, robbing Brad McGowan (Langley, British Columbia/Surrey Eagles) from the slot and then Josh Mitchell (Osoyoos, British Columbia/Alberni Valley Bulldogs) from the doorstep on the rebound.

Ruby had to make a tremendous save on Jeff Carroll late in the period, as the Sacred Heart forward found himself all alone in front. Somehow, Ruby was able to get across and keep the puck out of the net, keeping the score 2-0 Sacred Heart.

The Tigers got one right back to open the second period, just 1:38 in, as Miller was able to stuff a rebound past Bodnarchuk from the doorstep for his third goal of the season, cutting the Pioneers lead to 2-1. Caleb Cameron (Sunridge, Ontario/Listowel Cyclones) had the puck behind the net and fed Todd Skirving (Thunder Bay, Ontario/Sioux Falls Stampede) at the goal line on the left side. Skirving's shot hit the side of the net, but bounced right in front, where Miller was able to jam in the rebound.

From there, Sacred Heart carried play for the rest of the period, holding a 12-5 edge in shots. Ruby had to make a handful of big saves, his best, a sprawling stop coming on a stuff in attempt from Jacob Brightbill from the right side of the net after a great centering pass on a 3-on-2 break.

Chase Norrish (Strongfield, Saskatchewan/Yorkton Terriers) had a great chance for the Tigers later in the period, while the teams were playing 4-on-4, getting a feed from McGowan and walking through the slot. He fired a high shot that Bodnarchuk gobbled up, keeping the score 2-1.

In the third period, Sacred Heart settled into a defensive shell, content to stand four and sometimes all five players at its own blue line, frustrating the RIT forwards. The Tigers were unable to generate many great scoring chances and the Pioneers were able to hang on and get the win.

RIT had its unbeaten streak against Sacred Heart snapped at 10 games tonight and is now 17-5-0 all-time against the Pioneers. Prior to tonight, the last time RIT lost to Sacred Heart was on Feb. 6, 2010. That was RIT's final loss that season before rattling off 12 straight wins, making their incredible run to the Frozen Four.

Last night, the Tigers scored two shorthanded goals for the first time in nearly six years, rolling to a 5-1 win over the Pioneers. Garbowsky tied a career-high with four points on two goals and two assists, while McGowan added a goal and two assists.

RIT and Sacred Heart will also meet on Jan. 16-17 at the Milford Ice Pavilion in Connecticut.

"We want to get this bitter taste out of our mouth, as it is another good lesson for us," said Wilson. "Points are going to be hard fought from here on out. We need to be prepared to play. We have to compete harder; that's the bottom line."

The Tigers return to action next Saturday, Nov. 29 with a non-conference contest at Yale University that gets underway at 7 p.m. Wilson's son Stu is a junior forward for the Bulldogs. Yale won the 2013 NCAA Division I National Championship.