RIT falls at AIC, 7-3

RIT senior forward Will Calverley notched a goal and an assist, but it was host AIC taking a 7-3 victory over the Tigers in Atlantic Hockey Action, Saturday.

HOW IT HAPPENED

AIC opened the scoring on a wrist shot from the left face-off circle by Chris Theodore over RIT junior goaltender Kolby Matthews’ glove with 14:48 on the clock.

The Tigers responded just over three minutes later following a Yellowjacket hooking penalty. AIC won the ensuing face-off, but a clearing attempt deflected off the linesman who had just dropped the puck. Calverley jumped on the loose puck in the slot for a quick finish with 11:42 remaining in the period.

AIC scored twice in the final four minutes of the first period and again 31 seconds into the second to build a 4-1 lead, before goals in a 2:33 span pushed the Yellowjackets to a 6-1 lead with 12:17 on the clock.

RIT got one back with 9:42 left in the second after freshman forward Tanner Andrew won a face-off in the AIC zone back to sophomore defenseman Diarmad DiMurro, who scored on a long shot through traffic inside the right post.

AIC re-took a 7-2 lead 1:20 later on Zak Galambos second goal of the game.

RIT was hit with a slashing penalty on sophomore defenseman Aiden Hansen-Bukata with 4:53 left in the second, but Calverley intercepted a pass in the Tiger zone on the ensuing AIC power play and skated down the left wing to feed Walker in the slot for a two-on-one, short-handed finish with 4:06 on the clock.

GAME NOTES

RIT allowed the most goals since a 9-5 home loss to Sacred Heart on Nov. 15, 2019.

Tiger junior goaltender Kolby Matthews took his first loss of the season, totaling 14 saves before being chased after AIC’s sixth goal. Freshman Tommy Scarfone made 19 saves over the final 32:17 of play.

Calverley notched his team-leading sixth goal of the season.

Walker scored his 20th career goal.

Andrew logged his first career point with his assist on DiMurro’s goal.

WHAT’S NEXT

RIT squares off with host AIC again on Sunday (Nov. 7) at 3:05 p.m.