Fast start not enough as ice hockey falls to RIT

SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts – The American International College ice hockey team fell 4-3 to the Rochester Institute of Technology in Atlantic Hockey Association play on Saturday, November 5.

AIC drops to 5-3-2 overall and 3-2-0-0-0-0 in the AHA.

The first period was all AIC as the Yellow Jackets had a 13-3 shot advantage. However, excellent work by RIT goalkeeper Tommy Scarfone kept the offense at bay until late in the frame, when Dustin Manz picked off a puck and got alone in front of Scarfone with Austen Long; he flicked the puck to AIC's co-captain, who deposited his second of the year into the net at 16:03.

AIC doubled the lead in the last half-minute of the frame as Reggie Millette swiped the puck away from an RIT defender at AIC's blueline and sprinted out with it, finding Brett Rylance in front for Rylance's first collegiate goal at 19:31. The assist was also Millette's first point with AIC. 

In the second, however, RIT's fortunes turned, as a near-miss in AIC's attacking end turned into a breakaway pass from Aiden Hansen-Bukata to Grady Hobbs, and Hobbs put away the chance at 2:26. He then tied the game with RIT on a major power play off a pass from Tanner Andrew at 5:36.

RIT continued to dominate, but the Yellow Jackets ended the period with a shocking goal, as Nico Somerville and Evan Stella combined to find Blake Bennett behind the defense, and Bennett made no mistake with his eighth of the season at 17:01.

Unfortunately for the Yellow Jackets, RIT controlled the third as well, with Gianfranco Cassaro scoring just 0:59 into the frame on a power play shot from the right side, and midway through the period Simon Isabelle found Cody Laskosky alone in the slot for what proved to be the winner at 11:50.

The two teams finish the season series on Sunday, November 6 at 3:05 p.m.