ROCHESTER, NY — The RIT (1-1-0, 1-1-0 Atlantic Hockey) men's hockey team dropped its first game of the season, 6-5 to Robert Morris (1-1-0, 1-1-0 Atlantic Hockey) Saturday in front of 2,307 fans at the Gene Polisseni Center.

RIT held a commanding 5-1 after Jordan Peacock (Burlington, Ontario/Burlington Cougars)'s first collegiate goal with 9:04 left in the second period, a weekend sweep less than a period and a half away. The Tigers proceeded to take four straight penalties and in a complete reversal, the Colonals scored four power-play goals in a span of 1:52 to tie the game and Brady Ferguson won the game for Robert Morris with an unassisted goal 5:46 into the third period, shocking the RIT faithful.

Ferguson enjoyed a career game for the Colnials, having a hand on all six goal with three goals and three assists. Defenseman Eric Israel recorded a career-high five points on a goal and four assists. Alex Tonge also scored twice in the win.

Liam Kerins and Chase Norrish (Strongfield, Saskatchewan/Yorkton Terriers) had a goal and an assist apiece to lead the RIT attack. Caleb Cameron (Sundridge, Ontario/Listowel Cyclones) and Myles Powell (Courtenay, British Columbia/Cowichan Valley Capitals) tallied a pair of assists each, while Erik Brown (Keene, Ontario/Kemptville 73's), Adam Brubacher (Elmira, Ontario/Powell River Kings), and Jordan Peacock (Burlington, Ontario/Burlington Cougars) also scored for the Tigers. Peacock's goal was the first of his collegiate career.

RIT out-shot Robert Morris, 42-25. The teams combined for 17 penalties on the night. RIT was 3-for-8 with the extra man, while Robert Morris was 4-for-8. Marotte picked up his first career win, allowing just one goal on 28 shots sent his way over the final 39 minutes.

RIT senior Mike Rotolo (Rochester, NY/Cedar Rapids Roughriders) dropped to 1-1-0 with the loss, stopping 19 shots.

"We scored three power-play goals in the first, but it gave us a false sense of security,"  said RIT head coach Wayne Wilson. "But then we imploded with penalties. They got themselves right back in the game, and then it was anyone's game."
 
Robert Morris started the scoring just 1:25 into the game, when Ferguson scored on a breakaway off of a crisp breakout pass from his Israel.
 
The Tigers took it from there, though. On one of RIT's four power-plays in the first period, junior Chase Norrish (Strongfield, Saskatchewan/Yorkton Terriers) potted his first goal of the season on a slapshot from the point. Powell and Brady Norrish (Strongfield, Saskatchewan/Yorkton Terriers) assisted the goal.
 
It didn't end there for RIT in the opening stanza. Kerins found the back of the net for the second straight game on another power-play, after a shot from Chase Norrish (Strongfield, Saskatchewan/Yorkton Terriers) was knocked aside and right onto Kerins's tape. Brown finished the first period scoring for the Tigers, as his first goal of the year, on the power-play, put RIT ahead 3-1.
 
The second period began with more of the same from RIT. The Tigers scored just 54 seconds into the frame, Brubacher fired in his second goal in as many games. The goal was assisted by linemates Kerins and Gabe Valenzuela (Brampton, Ontario/North York Rangers). 

That goal prompted the Colonials decided to make a goalie change, putting Marotte in for starter Andrew Pikul, who made 10 saves on just 14 shots.

Just past the halfway point in the period, RIT found the back of the net again.  Peacock's first career goal put the Tigers up 5-1. 
 
The teams combined for eight penalties in the second stanza, which came back to bite the Tigers. The Colonials scored four power-play goals in a span of 1:52 to tie the game. The four power-play tallies (three of which came in 5-on-3 situations) tied the game at 5. Ferguson and Israel each had a goal and three assists in the span, while Tonge tallied twice.
 
Robert Morris broke the 5-5 tie 5:46 into the third period, when a clearing pass was intercepted by Ferguson in the slot, who put his third goal of the game on the board, which eventually solidified the 6-5 win for Robert Morris.

RIT out-shot the Colonials 14-2 in the third period and had a power-play late in regulation, but could not solve Marotte, who picked up his first collegiate win.
 
"You can't wear yourself out killing penalties and expect to have the same energy," said Wilson. "We gave them the momentum back at 5-1 and (Robert Morris) took it."

Robert Morris leads the all-time series between the two schools, 11-8-4. Friday night, RIT defeated the Colonials, 6-3 in the season-opener for both clubs. The two teams also meet at Robert Morris on Feb. 3-4, 2017 to complete the season series.
 
The Tigers return to action on Saturday, Oct. 15 for Brick City Homecoming Weekend against Connecticut at Blue Cross Arena in downtown Rochester. The contest begins at 7:05 p.m. Limited tickets still remain for the contest, which has sold out six consecutive years.