ROCHESTER, NY – The RIT men's hockey team (6-10-4, 5-5-4 AHC) moved to .500 in league play by defeating American International (3-14-5, 3-8-5 AHC) by a score of 3-2 in front of 3,142 fans at the Gene Polisseni Center on Saturday evening.

RIT scored twice in the first 2:06 and out-shot the Yellow Jackets 40-16. Josh Mitchell (Osoyoos, British Columbia/Alberni Valley Bulldogs), Andrew Miller (Chicago, IL/Chicago Steel), and Garrett McMullen (Churchville, NY/Trail Smoke Eaters) scored for the Tigers. In goal, Mike Rotolo (Rochester, NY/Cedar Rapids Roughriders) made 14 saves in his Gene Polisseni Center debut.

Austin Orszulak and Matt Cassidy scored for the Yellow Jackets. For the second straight night, Alex Murray was sensational in net, stopping 37 shots, including several highlight reel stops.

Just five penalties were called in the contest. American International was 0-for-2 with the man-advantage, while RIT was scoreless in one power-play attempt.

"We controlled play much more so tonight," said RIT head coach Wayne Wilson. "We moved our feet and played with a lot of energy. Going on the road the next two weeks, we will have to bear down and starting winning ugly to make our way up in the standings."

The Tigers got off to a tremendous start, scoring twice in the first 2:06 to take a fast 2-0 lead en route to a 2-1 lead after one period of play.

Just 17 seconds in, Mitchell slammed home a perfect feed from Garbowsky on the doorstep for his seventh goal of the season to make it 1-0. McGowan grabbed a loose puck at the Yellow Jackets line and sprung Garbowsky and Mitchell in on a 2-on-1 and they made no mistake on the tap in goal.

Miller picked up a rebound in front for his fourth goal of the season, just 2:08 in to give RIT a 2-0 lead. Brandon Thompson (Vancouver, British Columbia/Handsworth) fed Danny Smith (Edmonton, Alberta/Sherwood Park Crusaders) behind the net, who came out in front and had his initial shot stopped by Murray. The rebound was in front, where Matt Abt (Leduc, Alberta/Whitecourt Wolverines ) poked it to Miller, who was all alone at the side of the net for the goal.

The Yellow Jackets would come right back at the 4:17 mark, as MacMillan tipped a pass from behind the net in front to Orszulak, who fired a shot past Rotolo off the right post and in for his Division I leading 15th goal of the season.

The Tigers kept coming, but Murray made a handful of saves to keep it 2-1 after one period. Murray robbed Caleb Cameron (Sunridge, Ontario/Listowel Cyclones) with the pad as he cut to the net and tried to sweep the puck in. Moments later, Mark Golberg (Ottawa, Ontario/Cumberland Grads) rang a shot off the crossbar from the slot. In the final minute, Murray robbed Garbowsky on one chance at the doorstep and the RIT captain put the rebound off the post.

McMullen gave the Tigers a 3-1 lead 4:43 into the second period, as he took a feed from Max Mikowski (Cheekotwaga, NY/Buffalo Jr. Sabres) on a 3-on-2 rush and ripped a wrist shot from the slot past Murray for his third goal of the season. Miles Powell and Brady Norrish (Strongfield, Saskatchewan/Yorkton Terriers) created a turnover at the RIT blue line, as Norrish chipped the puck to Mikowski, who came in with McMullen. With Powell charging the net, Mikowski fed the trailing McMullen, who beat Murray high.

Chris Porter had a great chance in front midway through the period on a scramble in front, but had his shot go off the crossbar and over the net. Moments later, Murray made a great glove save on Garbowsky as he was alone in the slot after sustained RIT pressure.

Mitchell looked to have his second of the game in the dying seconds of the period, as a shot from the point caromed off the back boards right to the RIT forward at the side of the net. Mitchell had what looked to be an open net, but Yellow Jackets defenseman Derek Henderson dove across to keep the puck out.

In the third, it was much of the same, with RIT out-shooting the Yellow Jackets, 15-4 and controlling play for long stretches.

Cassidy pulled American International to within one with 3:02 left, slipping a shot from the slot through the legs of Rotolo for his fourth goal of the year.

RIT held the puck for most of the final three minutes and was able to get the win.

RIT is 25-3-3 all-time against the Yellow Jackets, including a 22-3-2 mark since the 2005-06 season. The Tigers now have a 12-game unbeaten streak against American International dating back to the 2011-12 season. RIT is 16-1-2 all-time against American International in Rochester.

The Tigers are back in action next weekend, as they head to Sacred Heart for a pair of games on Nov. 16-17. Both games from the Milford Ice Pavilion begin at 7:05 p.m. It begins a stretch of four straight road contests before finishing the season with seven of the final 10 games on home ice.