RIT junior forward Andrew Rinaldi scored two goals, including the short-handed game-winner with 3:04 left in regulation, to lead the Tigers to a 4-3 comeback victory at Army, Friday, in both teams’ Atlantic Hockey opener.
Junior goaltender Kolby Matthews totaled 25 saves to earn the victory.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Army scored 1:37 into the game and again 1:39 later to build an early 2-0 lead with 16:54 on the clock.
Freshman forward Carter Wilkie put the Tigers on the board with 3:54 remaining in the first with a left-wing blast for his first collegiate goal.
The Black Knights took a 3-1 edge 15:16 into the second before Rinaldi’s first goal brought the visitors back within one with 4:41 remaining in the second.
RIT senior forward Will Calverley tied the game with 9:52 remaining in the third period.
Wilkie was whistled for a cross checking penalty with 5:03 left in regulation, but three saves by Matthews on the ensuing power play kept Army off the board. As the final seconds of the penalty ticked away, Rinaldi stole a puck off the right wing boards in the Army zone and slipped his own rebound past Black Knight goaltender Justin Evenson inside the left post with one-second left on the penalty.
GAME NOTES
Army finished with a 28-23 shot advantage.
Rinaldi notched his second-straight game with a goal after also opening the scoring in last Saturday’s 5-2 setback to visiting Colgate. It was also his second career multi-goal game and first since notching a pair of goals in a 7-3 victory over visiting Mercyhurst (Dec. 6, 2019). The goal was also his first short-handed tally.
Calverley’s goal was his first of the season after finishing second in Atlantic Hockey with 12 last season. It was also his 65th career point.
WHAT’S NEXT
RIT looks to complete the sweep at Army on Saturday (Oct. 9) in a 4:00 p.m. face-off.
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to [email protected].