WORCESTER, Mass. – The RIT Men's Hockey team lost 5-4 in overtime at Holy Cross in game-two of the best-of-three Atlantic Hockey America (AHA) Quarterfinals, Saturday.
The Tigers trailed, 4-1, entering the third period before goals by first-year forward
William Moore and back-to-back tallies by senior forward
Austin Brimmer, including the game-tying goal with 31.6 on the clock, forced overtime for the second-consecutive night.
Holy Cross' Jack Stockfish scored the deciding goal 4:06 into extra time to clinch the series.
HOW IT HAPPENED
After a scoreless first, Holy Cross tallied twice in the opening minutes of the second. Following a Tiger cross checking penalty, the Crusaders started with a power play goal at 2:53 on a one-timer by Devin Phillips from the right faceoff circle, near post. Eighteen seconds later, Michael Abgrall grabbed a loose puck in the neutral zone and took a shot from the point that rebounded off Tiger goaltender
Jakub Krbecek's stick. Connor Welsh split two defenders and one-timed his own rebound inside the right post.
RIT got on the board with 3:44 left in the second. Sophomore defenseman
Ryan Williams took a shot from the point that deflected off the end boards to sophomore forward
Ty Whyte in front of the left post for a short finish.
Holy Cross tallied twice in the final minute to carry a 4-1 lead into the third. David Hymovitch scored on a shot from the point that bounced through a crowd on its way into the net with 43.7 remaining before Jack Stockfish got behind the Tiger defense and snapped a wrist shot inside the right post with 9.7 on the clock.
RIT started the comeback at 6:38 of the third after Moore backhanded a rebound on the crease off a shot by junior defenseman
Kevin Scott.
Brimmer collected a rebound in the left faceoff circle and scored on a wrist shot that scored inside the far post at 8:15.
Brimmer tied the game in the final minute, stretching from outside the left post to tip a rebound inside the left post off a shot by senior defenseman
Xavier Lapointe from above the left faceoff circle.
Stockfish snapped a wrist shot over Krbecek's glove from the slot 4:06 into overtime for the deciding tally.
GAME NOTES
- Holy Cross also won Friday's opening game in overtime, 2-1.
- RIT finished with a 37-24 advantage in shots on goal.
- The Tigers went 0-for-3 on the power play while Holy Cross finished 1-for-2.
- First-year forward Zach Wigle won a game-high 18-of-28 faceoffs.
- Krbecek was credited with 19 saves.
- Scott logged two assists.
- Brimmer finished the season with a team-high 25 points on 10 goals and 15 assists.
- RIT finishes the season with a 17-17-2 record under first-year head coach Matt Thomas.
