SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – RIT sophomore forward
Evan Miller notched a goal and an assist while sophomore goaltender
Tommy Scarfone made 29 saves, but it was host Union coming back to earn a 4-3 victory over the Tigers in both teams' season opener.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- RIT opened the scoring with 10:47 on the first-period clock. Sophomore forward Carter Wilkie came up with a turnover at the top of the Union zone and threw a puck toward the Dutchmen goal. Miller deflected the puck in the low slot to sophomore forward Tanner Andrew in front of the right post for a short finish.
- RIT took a 2-0 lead with 25 second left in the first after graduate student Matt Kellenberger dropped a pass in the right face-off circle to Miller, who scored on a shot through traffic.
- Union took advantage of a turnover at the top of the Tiger zone early in the second period and got on the board with 17:22 on the clock after Carter Korpi finished a cross-ice feed from Nate Hanley.
- RIT retook a 3-1 lead with 15:12 left in the second after junior forward Cody Laskosky finished an end-to-end rush with a glove-side finish.
- Union again answered, converting a two-on-one break off a long outlet pass for a 3-2 score with 14:22 left in the second.
- Union tied the score with 13:01 left in the third after Josh Nixon skated down the right-wing boards and fed Chris Theodore in the slot. Theodore gave it back to Nixon in front of the right post for a short finish.
- The Dutchmen scored the game-winner with 1:33 left in regulation after Carter Prokop sent a long pass through a crowd at the top of the Union zone to Korpi in the neutral zone. Korpi got loose behind the Tiger defense to beat Scarfone for the deciding tally.
GAME NOTES
- RIT killed all six Union power plays it faced, including a pair of 5-on-3 opportunities in the second period.
- Union finished with a 33-25 shot advantage.
- Miller notched his first career goal and multi-point game after only appearing in two games last season due to injury.
- RIT finished the 2021-22 season with a 12-1-1 record when scoring first and was also 10-0-1 when holding a lead entering the third period.
- RIT hadn't lost a game when leading after two periods since falling to Holy Cross, 4-3, on Jan. 31, 2020 after building a 3-2 lead after 40 minutes of play.
- RIT hadn't lost a game when leading by two or more goals since giving up a 2-0 lead to Long Island University in a 4-3 loss on Dec. 11, 2020.
- RIT played the earliest season-opener in program history.
WHAT'S NEXT
RIT hosts Army next Friday and Saturday (Oct. 7-8) to open Atlantic Hockey play. Game times are scheduled for 7:05 p.m. and 5:05 p.m., respectively.