ROCHESTER, N.Y. – RIT sophomore forwards
Carter Wilkie and
Grady Hobbs each logged a goal and an assist to lead the Tigers to a 4-1 victory over visiting Army in Atlantic Hockey action, Saturday night.
The Tigers completed the two-game sweep of the Black Knights after opening league play on Friday with a 3-2 win.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- RIT built a 2-0 lead with 7:42 left in the first period. Senior defenseman Gianfranco Cassaro took a nice cross-ice feed in the left face-off circle from senior forward Andrew Petrucci and snapped a wrist shot over Army goaltender Gavin Abric's blocker from the slot 3:17 into the game.
- Wilkie later took a shot from the left face-off circle that deflected down in front of the Army crease. Senior forward Kobe Walker and Hobbs each got a stick on the loose puck before Wilkie skated across the slot and stuck a shot inside the right post for his first goal of the season.
- Army got on the board with 2:35 left in the first after John Keranen redirected a power-play shot in the slot past RIT junior goaltender Kolby Matthews.
- The teams played a scoreless second period, combining for 10 penalties and 34 PIM.
- RIT took a 3-1 lead early in the third period. Sophomore forward Tanner Andrew dropped a pass inside the right-wing blue line to Wilkie, who shot a puck on net from the top of the zone. Hobbs was in front of the crease to tip a bouncing puck past Abric with 17:56 left in regulation.
- Junior defenseman Aiden Hansen-Bukata tacked on an empty-net goal with four seconds on the clock to complete the evening.
GAME NOTES
- Matthews totaled 27 saves, including 12 during the second period, to preserve his first start of the season.
- The teams combined for 23 penalties and 84 minutes of penalty minutes.
- Hansen-Bukata also scored what proved to be the game-winner in Friday's victory.
- Hobbs notched his second career multi-point game and first since totaling a goal and an assist in the 3-2 win over Sacred Heart (Jan. 11) last season.
- Petrucci won 13-of-22 faceoffs.
- Hansen-Bukata blocked a career-high six shots.
- RIT out-shot Army, 35-28.
WHAT'S NEXT
RIT hosts Union next Saturday (Oct. 15) in the annual Brick City Homecoming and Family Weekend game at Blue Cross Arena in downtown Rochester. Face-off is set for 7:05 p.m.