ROCHESTER, N.Y. – RIT freshman forward
Carter Wilkie notched a goal and an assist while senior forwards
Will Calverley and
Kobe Walker added goals in a 3-3 tie with visiting Mercyhurst, Friday, in Atlantic Hockey play. The Tigers won the extra conference point with a 2-0 shootout victory.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Mercyhurst got on the board with 9:08 left in the first. Kyler Head dropped a pass off the left-wing boards at the blue line to Jonathan Bendorf, who sent a puck on the Tiger net that deflected inside the far post off Josh McDougall's skate.
- RIT answered with 5:22 on the clock. Sophomore defenseman Aiden Hansen-Bukata intercepted a Laker clearing attempt at the right point and fed Walker down low for a one-timer under Mercyhurst goalie Hank Johnson's stick.
- The Tigers struck twice in the second to build a 3-1 lead. With the Lakers skating a man down following a cross check penalty, junior forward Elijah Gonsalves chipped a pass in front of the crease to Wilkie, who spun a puck to Calverley on the right post for a short finish at 5:12. Wilkie later finished a rush off a feed from senior forward Jake Hamacher with 57.1 on the clock.
- Mercyhurst evened the score with two third-period goals. Paul Maust cleaned up a short rebound at 11:01 before Austin Heidermann scored the equalizer with 4:54 remaining.
- Matthews saved all four shots he faced in the overtime period, including a diving glove save on a breakaway with 1:41 on the clock to keep the Lakers at bay.
- Willet beat Johnson with a flurry of dekes to start the shootout before junior Kolby Matthews shut off a back-handed attempt at the left post by Heidermann. Hamacher followed by snapping a shot past Johnson's glove before Matthews made a glove save on Carson Briere to close the night.
GAME NOTES
- Calverley's goal was RIT's first power play tally of the season. The Tigers entered the night 0-for-23 over their first six games.
- Calverley's tally was also his team-leading fifth goal of the season as well as his 70th career point.
- Voted Atlantic Hockey Rookie of the Week for the second time this season, Wilkie notched his first career multi-point game. He is tied for second on the team with three goals and ranks second with five points.
- Matthews compiled 22 saves to remain unbeaten on the season with a 3-0-2 record.
- RIT finished the game with a 35-25 shot advantage.
WHAT'S NEXT
RIT and Mercyhurst complete their two-game set on Saturday (Oct. 30) at 5:00 p.m. back at the Polisseni Center.