ROCHESTER, NY – Erik Brown (Keene, Ontario/Kemptville 73's) scored two goals, including the game-winner with 6:24 remaining in regulation to lift the RIT men's hockey team (15-13-3, 13-9-3 AHA) to a 5-3 team over Robert Morris University (10-20-1, 9-15-1 AHA) from the Gene Polisseni Center Friday night.
 
RIT led 3-1 heading into the third period before Justin Addamo and Alex Tonge scored consecutive goals for Robert Morris to tie the game at 3-3. RIT was awarded a power-play with 6:45 left and Brown made the Colonials pay 21 seconds later, as a pass by Jake Hamacher (Corona, CA/Dubuque Fighting Saints) was redirected by Abbott Girduckis (Belleville, Ontario/Wellington Dukes), right off the leg of Brown, who was standing just to the right of Robert Morris goaltender Francis Marotte for what turned out to be the game-winning goal.
 
Robert Morris would pull Marotte for the extra attacker with 1:48 left and right after he hit the bench, Adam Brubacher (Elmira, Ontario/Powell River Kings) broke up a pass at the RIT blueline right to Brown, who fed Girduckis, who calmly skated to the Colonials line and slid a shot into the open net for his 10th goal of the season, sealing the win for RIT.
 
Brown, Girduckis and Brubacher, RIT's three leading scorers, all had three points apiece on the evening for the Tigers. Brown had two goals and an assist, while Girduckis had two goals and an assist and Brubacher tied a career-high with three helpers. Brody Valette (Calgary, Alberta/Whitecourt Wolverines) and Kobe Walker (Lloydminster, Alberta/Lloydminster Bobcats) also scored for the Tigers, while Hamacher added two assists. In net, Logan Drackett (Calgary, Alberta/Calgary Canucks) picked up his 12th win of the season, stopping 25 shots.
 
Michael Louria scored a first period goal for the Colonials, while Luke Lynch added two assists. Marotte made 24 saves in the loss.
 
RIT out-shot Robert Morris, 29-28, while both teams were 2-for-5 on the power-play.
 
"We were able to gut out a win and that's the important thing, but need to stay out of the box (against Robert Morris)," said RIT head coach Wayne Wilson. "We will make our adjustments and be ready to go tomorrow night."
 
With the win, RIT moved into sole possession of third place in the Atlantic Hockey standings with 29 points, one ahead of Air Force and Sacred Heart. The Tigers are just a point behind Bentley for second place.
 
Both teams scored once in an opening period highlighted by special teams play.
 
RIT would take a penalty just nine seconds in, but kill it off. The Tigers would get on the board first, as Valette took a pass from Regan Seiferling (Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan/Yorkton Terriers) and fired a shot that glanced off a Colonials player and past Marotte for the goal, 9:52 into the game. The goal was Valette's second of the season.
 
RIT would get whistled for a major penalty for interference after a video review and the Colonials would take advantage, as Nick Prkusic found Louria all alone in front for the tying goal 44 seconds into the power-play.
 
The Tigers would regain the lead on the power-play with 9:47 left in the second period, as Brown redirected a shot from Jake Hamacher (Corona, CA/Dubuque Fighting Saints) past Marotte for his team-leading 14th goal of the season to make it a 2-1 game. Adam Brubacher (Elmira, Ontario/Powell River Kings) also assisted on the goal.
 
Walker tallied his third of the season on a wrap-around attempt with 2:05 left in the second period to give RIT a 3-1 lead. Brubacher sent a pass down low to Nick Bruce (Fall River, Nova Scotia/Johnstown Tomahawks) who had a wrap-around chance stopped by Marotte. Walker batted down the rebound, beat his guy around the net and Marotte to the far post for the goal.
 
RIT leads the all-time series between the two schools, 15-13-4. Tonight's game was the third of four regular season meetings between RIT and Robert Morris. On Oct. 26, Marotte made 25 saves to lead Robert Morris to a 3-0 win. The next night, Gabe Valenzuela (Brampton, Ontario/North York Rangers) scored with 30 seconds left in overtime to lift RIT to a dramatic 2-1 victory.
 
RIT and Robert Morris wrap up the regular season series Saturday night from the Polisseni Center at 7:05 p.m.