SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – RIT freshman
Carter Wilkie tipped home the overtime game-winning goal and added an assist to lead the Tigers to a 3-2 victory at AIC, Sunday, in Atlantic Hockey action.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- RIT opened the scoring with 7:35 left in the first period. Sophomore defenseman Dimitri Mikrogiannakis hustled to keep a clearing attempt in the AIC zone and bounced a pass off the right-wing boards to senior forward Jake Joffe in the right corner. Joffe fed a pass to sophomore forward Cody Laskosky in the slot for a one-timer inside the right post.
- AIC took advantage of a failed Tiger clear to even the score with 6:44 on the clock.
- The Yellowjackets took a 2-1 lead 1:59 into the second period after Elijiah Barriga lifted a puck onto his stick blade behind the Tiger net and tucked it into the goal over junior goaltender Kolby Matthews' right shoulder.
- RIT scored on an odd-man rush down the left wing with 12:33 remaining in the second period. Freshman forward Grady Hobbs took a short pass from junior forward Andrew Rinaldi and scored on a shot from the left face-off circle.
- The teams played a scoreless third period, but AIC was whistled for having too many men on the ice 42.6 left in regulation. RIT started overtime with a 4-on-3 power play where senior forward Jake Hamacher cycled a puck to senior defenseman Dan Willett at the point. Willett slid a puck to junior forward Caleb Moretz on his left and skated the return feed into the slot to snap a wrist shot on goal. Wilkie re-directed the puck inside the left post for the deciding tally with 3:43 on the clock.
GAME NOTES
- Matthews stopped 28 of 30 shots he faced to improve to 5-1-2 this season.
- RIT killed all five AIC power plays it faced.
- Hobbes and Laskosky also logged goals in Saturday's 7-3 setback at AIC
- RIT out-shot AIC, 41-30, taking the most shots in a game since taking 40 in a 3-2 win over visiting Mercyhurst on Dec. 7, 2019.
WHAT'S NEXT
RIT plays two Atlantic Hockey games at Canisius next Friday and Saturday (Nov. 12-13). Face-offs are scheduled for 6:05 p.m. and 4:05 p.m., respectively.