NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, NY – Luke Edgerton scored with 1:40 left in regulation to break a 2-2 tie and lift host Niagara University (12-17-4, 11-12-4 AHA) to a 4-2 win over the RIT men's hockey team (15-14-4, 13-10-4 AHA) from Dwyer Arena Wednesday evening.

RIT was called for a major penalty after a video review with 7:39 remaining in regulation. RIT would do a tremendous job killing off the major and just missed taking the lead while shorthanded, as Abbott Girduckis (Belleville, Ontario/Wellington Dukes) made a great move inside the Niagara zone only to fire a shot off the left post and out.

After the Tigers returned to even strength, Edgerton took a feed from Ludwig Stenlund, came into the RIT zone and slipped a shot between the legs of RIT goaltender Logan Drackett (Calgary, Alberta/Calgary Canucks) for what turned out to be the game winning goal. Stenlund would put the game away with an empty-netter with 39 seconds left.

Shawn Cameron (Sherbrooke, Quebec/Cumberland Grads) and Darren Brady (Lake Orion, MI/New Jersey Titans) scored for the Tigers, who remain tied for third in the Atlantic Hockey standings with Air Force with one game remaining. RIT can still finish as high as second, but as low as sixth.

"I thought we controlled play throughout, but we needed to pull away and did not," said RIT head coach Wayne Wilson. "We let one slip away tonight. We need to be ready Saturday night versus Canisius."

Stenlund had a goal and two assists to lead the Purple Eagles, while Noah Delmas scored two goals. Brian Wilson made 32 saves in the win.

RIT out-shot Niagara, 34-23. Both teams were 0-for-3 on the power-play.

Neither team scored in the opening period, as RIT held a 10-5 edge in shots on goal. Erik Brown (Keene, Ontario/Kemptville 73's) had a good chance off a clean face-off win by Ryan Kruper (Sherwood Park, Alberta/Sherwood Park Crusaders) that Wilson just got a pad on. Drackett came up big with a nifty glove save on a shot by Nick Farmer off the rush.

Niagara would get on the board first, just 58 seconds into the second period, as Delmas fired a wrist shot from the right point through traffic and just under the crossbar for his 11th goal of the season.

RIT responded moments later, five seconds after a power-play ended, as Cameron was parked in front and redirected a shot by Chris McKay (Edmonton, Alberta/Sherwood Park Crusaders) past Wilson for his seventh goal of the year. Alden Dupuis (Edmonton, Alberta/Bonnyville Pontiacs) also assisted on the goal that came 3:50 into the second period.

Drackett was called upon to make two key saves. The first was on a Tiger power-play, as he robbed Justin Kendall on a 3-on-1 rush. Midway through the period, Drackett robbed Ben Sokay with a big skate save in tight.

The Purple Eagles regained the lead, 2-1, just 48 seconds into the third period, as the teams were playing 4-on-4. Ludwig Stenlund caused a turnover and sent Delmas in on a 2-on-1. Delmas would fire a shot to the far post past Drackett for his second goal of the game and 12th of the season.

Once again, RIT would answer right back, 2:08 later, as Brady unleashed a rocket of a one-timer from the high slot off a feed from Nick Bruce (Fall River, Nova Scotia/Johnstown Tomahawks) that went just under the crossbar and in for his third goal of the season to tie the game at 2-2.

Niagara leads the all-time series between the two schools, 19-12-14. The Tigers went 2-1-1 against the Purple Eagles this season RIT defeated the Purple Eagles 8-4 at the Polisseni Center on Dec. 15, skated to a 4-4 tie in Niagara on Jan. 4 and received a goal from Adam Brubacher (Elmira, Ontario/Powell River Kings) with 1.6 seconds left in regulation to win 2-1 the following night.

The Tigers wrap up the 2018-19 regular season on Saturday, March 2 with a home contest versus Canisius College. RIT will honor seniors Erik Brown (Keene, Ontario/Kemptville 73's), Abbott Girduckis (Belleville, Ontario/Wellington Dukes), Mark Logan (Calgary, Alberta/Brooks Bandits), Christian Short (Vaughan, Ontario/Surrey Eagles) and Gabe Valenzuela (Brampton, Ontario/North York Rangers) prior to the game.