ROCHESTER, N.Y. - The Rochester Institute of Technology men's ice hockey team came back from a three-goal first period deficit to salvage a 3-3 tie opposite visitng Niagara, Friday night, in the teams' Atlantic Hockey opener. The Tigers (1-1-1, 0-0-1 AHA) went on to earn the extra conference point by winning a shootout, 3-2.

Senior forward Jake Hamacher (Corona, Calif.) converted the winning goal in the shootout while senior defenseman Dan Willett (Bayville, N.Y.) and junior forwards Jake Joffe (Toronto, Ontario) and Andrew Petrucci (Toronto, Ontario) each tallied goals in the comeback. Senior goalie Logan Drackett (Calgary, Alberta) logged 23 saves, including five during the five-minute overtime period, to earn the victory. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Niagara jumped out to a 3-0 first-period lead. Ludwig Stenlund tipped a goal in from the top of the crease with 7:42 left in the period before Ryan Naumovski wrapped-around a goal inside the left post 37 seconds later. Brandon Stanley scored on a shot from the slot through a crowd with 44 seconds on the clock to complete the period.
• Willett got the Tigers on the board with 17:26 on the second-period clock after skating the puck into the Niagara slot and scoring on a shot from from the hashes. 
• Joffe made it a one-goal game with 5:07 left in the second, taking a cross-ice feed from senior forward Alden Dupuis (Edmonton, Alberta) in the left face-off circle and scoring on a shot on goal.
• Petrucci scored the equalizer with 7:59 left in the third on a short rebound in front of the Purple Eagle crease.
• Niagara had a goal taken off the board in the opening minute of overtime after the shooter was deemed in the crease upon review. RIT also fought off a power-play opportunity by Niagara after Hamacher was whistled for the only penalty of the game (goalkeeper interference) 46 seconds into the extra period.
• Niagara scored on its opening shot of the shootout, but Drackett saved the next two before Joffe and Hamacher converted the Tigers' final two attempts to clinch the extra point in the Atlantic Hockey standings.

GAME NOTES

• RIT finished the game with a 38-26 shot advantage
• RIT came back from a three goal deficit for only the second time in the last eight years. The Tigers overcame a 4-1 deficit in the third period for a 5-4 OT win opposite visiting Canisius last season (Jan. 25). 

WHAT'S NEXT

RIT hits the road tomorrow to take on Niagara at 5:05 p.m. to complete the second half of the home-and-home doubleheader.