RIT senior forward Will Calverley notched two goals and an assist, but it was visiting Army scoring twice in the third period to earn a 4-3 victory in Atlantic Hockey action, Sunday.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Army got on the board with 12:09 left in the first period. Junior forward Brett Abdelnour tipped a shot by freshman defenseman Noah Wilson from the right point past RIT freshman goaltender Tommy Scarfone to open the scoring.
The Tigers responded with 9:28 on the clock after Calverley took a nice left-wing feed in the slot from sophomore Cody Laskosky for a stick-side finish to knot the score.
Army retook a 2-1 lead at 6:16 of the first with a power-play tip on the crease by junior defenseman Anthony Firriolo off a shot by junior defenseman Thomas Farrell.
RIT re-tied the game with 1:40 remaining in the first. Senior forward Kobe Walker beat a defender back to a loose puck behind the Black Knight goal and fed Calverley in the slot, who shuffled a puck to Laskosky for a wide open left post finish.
RIT took a 3-2 lead with 6:01 left in the second period. Following an Army interference penalty, senior forward Jake Hamacher slid a puck from the right face-off circle to Calverley on the crease, who jammed a shot under Army sophomore goaltender Gavin Abric’s pads.
Army tied the game, 3-3, with a power play tally by senior forward Colin Bilek 7:27 left in regulation.
The Black Knights were whistled for holding with 2:50 left in regulation. However, on the ensuing power play, Bilek played a loose puck off the boards to junior forward John Keranen, who skated down the left wing into the RIT zone for the deciding goal on a shot from the top of the left face-off circle.
GAME NOTES
Scarfone finished with 29 saves as Army finished with a 33-30 shot advantage.
Calverley’s second goal was his 80th career point and Atlantic Hockey-leading 11th tally of the season.
Army swept RIT in a two-game series for the first time since the teams first met in 2011. The Tigers lead the all-time series, 16-4-4.
WHAT’S NEXT
RIT is off until an Atlantic Hockey doubleheader at Sacred Heart on Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 1-2. Games are slated for 6:05 p.m. and 7:35 p.m. face-offs, respectively.
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to [email protected].