ROCHESTER, N.Y. – RIT sophomore forward Will Calverley (Scarborough, Ontario/Chilliwack Chiefs) totaled two goals and an assist while junior forward Alden Dupuis (Edmonton, Alberta/Bonnyville Pontiacs) and freshman forward Andrew Rinaldi (Pierrefonds, Quebec/Wellington Dukes) each scored two goals as the Tigers defeated visiting Mercyhurst, 7-3, in Atlantic Hockey action, Friday, at the Polisseni Center.

Trailing, 2-0, with 11:49 left in the second period, the Tigers (9-6-2, 6-5-2 AHA) scored five-straight goals, including three consecutive power-play tallies, to build a decisive 5-2 lead with 10:48 left in the third period.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Mercyhurst got on the board following RIT's third penalty of the first period. Sophomore defenseman Owen Norton took a shot from the top of the right face-off circle that deflected to sophomore forward Dalton Hunter in front for a short finish under Tiger junior goalie Logan Drackett's (Calgary, Alberta/Calgary Canucks) pads with 3:37 on the clock. 
• The Lakers took a two-goal lead after Khristian Acosta cleaned up a short rebound, before RIT scored three times in the final 10 minutes of the second period to carry a 3-2 lead in the third.
• Rinaldi took a pass at the red line and skated to the top of the left face-off circle to score on a shot inside the far post at 10:37.
• Following a Mercyhurst penalty at 5:55 for having too many skaters on the ice, first-year forward Caleb Moretz (Fairbanks, AK/Flin Flon Bombers) won the ensuing face-off in the right face-off circle directly to Calverley, who skated to the top of the slot and scored on a wrist shot under the cross bar four seconds later to even the score.
• The Lakers were whistled for a high-sticking penalty with 47 seconds on the clock, before junior forward Jake Hamacher (Corona, CA/Dubuque Fighting Saints) skated behind the Mercyhurst net and fed junior forward Alden Dupuis (Edmonton, Alberta/Bonnyville Pontiacs) in front for a quick finish to put the Tigers ahead, 3-2, with 10.7 left in the period.
• Skating with an extra man six minutes into the third, Calverley tipped a shot from the point by first-year forward Elijah Gonsalves (Scarborough, Ontario/Wellington Dukes) into the back of the net at 12:33 for the Tigers' third-consecutive power-play goal.
• Less than two minutes later, Rinaldi finished a breakout with a scoring wrist shot from the right face-off dot to push RIT to a three-goal edge.
• Mercyhurst got one back with 5:12 remaining, but the Tigers scored twice in the final four minutes to put the game out of reach. Senior forward Shawn Cameron (Sherbrooke, Quebec/Cumberland Grads) hit Dupuis in front with a nice wrap-around feed for a scoring one-timer with 3:40 on the clock before senior defenseman Darren Brady (Lake Orion, MI/New Jersey Titans) scored into an empty net from nearly the entire length of the ice with 51.2 remaining.

GAME NOTES

• RIT entered the game with two power play goals in 46 chances over its last 11 games before converting a season-high 3-of-5 opportunities opposite the Lakers this evening.
• Dupuis' second goal was the Tigers' first short-handed tally of the season.
• The Tigers improved to 4-3-1 when trailing after the first period and 7-0-1 when leading after the second.
• Senior defenseman Adam Brubacher (Elmira, Ontario/Powell River Kings) logged an assist in the second period for his 90th career point and team-high 10th helper of the season.
• Drackett totaled 16 saves as RIT out-shot the Lakers, 34-19. 

 
WHAT'S NEXT

RIT hosts Mercyhurst on Saturday (Dec. 7) at 7:00 p.m.