RIT freshman forward Carter Wilkie notched a goal and an assist while senior forwards Will Calverley and Kobe Walker added goals in a 3-3 tie with visiting Mercyhurst, Friday, in Atlantic Hockey play. The Tigers won the extra conference point with a 2-0 shootout victory.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Mercyhurst got on the board with 9:08 left in the first. Kyler Head dropped a pass off the left-wing boards at the blue line to Jonathan Bendorf, who sent a puck on the Tiger net that deflected inside the far post off Josh McDougall’s skate.
RIT answered with 5:22 on the clock. Sophomore defenseman Aiden Hansen-Bukata intercepted a Laker clearing attempt at the right point and fed Walker down low for a one-timer under Mercyhurst goalie Hank Johnson’s stick.
The Tigers struck twice in the second to build a 3-1 lead. With the Lakers skating a man down following a cross check penalty, junior forward Elijah Gonsalves chipped a pass in front of the crease to Wilkie, who spun a puck to Calverley on the right post for a short finish at 5:12. Wilkie later finished a rush off a feed from senior forward Jake Hamacher with 57.1 on the clock.
Mercyhurst evened the score with two third-period goals. Paul Maust cleaned up a short rebound at 11:01 before Austin Heidermann scored the equalizer with 4:54 remaining.
Matthews saved all four shots he faced in the overtime period, including a diving glove save on a breakaway with 1:41 on the clock to keep the Lakers at bay.
Willet beat Johnson with a flurry of dekes to start the shootout before Matthews shut off a back-handed attempt at the left post by Heidermann. Hamacher followed by snapping a shot past Johnson’s glove before Matthews made a glove save on Carson Briere to close the night.
GAME HIGHLIGHTS:
GAME NOTES
Calverley’s goal was RIT’s first power play tally of the season. The Tigers entered the night 0-for-23 over their first six games.
Calverley’s tally was also his team-leading fifth tally of the season as well as his 70th career point.
Voted Atlantic Hockey Rookie of the Week for the second time this season, Wilkie notched his first career multi-point game. He is tied for second on the team with three goals and ranks second with five points.
Matthews remained unbeaten on the season with a 3-0-2 record.
RIT finished the game with a 35-25 shot advantage.
WHAT’S NEXT
RIT and Mercyhurst complete their two-game set on Saturday (Oct. 30) at 5:00 p.m. back at the Polisseni Center.
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to [email protected].