By: Liam Hoffmann
ROCHESTER, NY-- Last night, two overtime periods weren't enough to decide a winner between the RIT Tigers and the visiting Robert Morris Colonials and ultimately RIT lost 1-0 in the shootout. Seeking their first Atlantic Hockey Association win this afternoon, the Tigers offense boomed to down RMU 5-1 on the back of two goals from first-year forward Kailey Favro.
Favro netted her first career collegiate goal 11 minutes into the middle frame. From beyond the red line, sophomore forward Addie Alvarez found Favro in the slot where she found the back of the net. Up 1-0 early in the third, Favro again stood in front of the net and senior forward Kylie Aquaro delivered the assist that was buried for some insurance.
Entering today, Favro's only collegiate points were two assists in the Tigers' season-opening 3-0 win atop Assumption. 11 games later, she tacked on two goals.
"My first game was an exhibition against Penn St. and I was so nervous," Favro said. "Day by day it's been getting better. Today I got a lot more confidence from that and hopefully, it can continue to build and I can really find my game here at this level."
Alvarez scored her first two collegiate in-conference goals against RMU last November. Today, she set Favro up to do the same.
"It was a big moment with it being her first goal," Alvarez said. "I saw her and wanted to get the puck to her right away. I know she can score, she has a good shot."
The Colonials answered halfway through the final frame with a goal from first-year defensewoman Emma Goding. Her shot bounced off the arm of RIT senior goalie Sarah Coe and found the net to cut the lead to 2-1.
Minutes later, RIT sophomore forward Linda Rulle stole a pass at the center-ice dot and beat RMU first-year goalie Lucy Phillips off the rush to rebuild the deficit. Less than a minute later, snappy puck movement allowed Tigers first-year forward Brac Kelley to score through the five-hole assisted by senior forward Bronwyn Khangsar and graduate captain defensewoman Mia Tsilemos. RIT senior forward Athena Vasdani drilled an empty-netter with two minutes left.
"This past week we've been as a team going through our goals and conference play is huge for us - everyone matters," Alvarez said. "We've been setting little goals along the way to get us ready for the games - little things we want to achieve and that helps us build momentum for the games."
RIT senior goalie Sarah Coe - program record holder for career saves (2,249) - ended the afternoon with 26 saves and 50 on the weekend. Today, she saved 12 shots in the first period but RIT's defense held RMU to just 14 shots on goal through the final 40 minutes.
"Any goalie in that situation - it's easier to stay in rhythm when you're getting consistent shots but really it's a matter of executing," RIT head coach Celeste Brown said. "They have the toughest job on the ice so she did a good job managing whatever came towards her today."
Entering the weekend, RIT's penalty kill percentage (88.0%) led the AHA. The final 4:22 of period one saw the Tigers survive a woman-down situation resulting from a five-minute major assessed to graduate forward Nicole Ness for checking from behind. The Colonials took three shots on goal in that stretch - all saved by Coe.
"It's a whole unit of PK-ers but they sacrifice their bodies and that's really what it comes down to, it's a product of culture," Brown said. "Like, 'do they care enough about the person next to you to take a little pain?' Too often, I think you see people get skinny but not on this team."
The faceoff battle was won by RIT just 31-to-30 but the Tigers' forecheck effectively kept the puck in the o-zone for much of the game.
"It's hard to play against us when we execute what we're supposed to so it was nice to see," Brown said.
RIT netted three points from the weekend hosting the Colonials. It trails only Penn State (five points) in conference standings and are tied with Mercyhurst and Lindenwood for second.
Next weekend, RIT will play a back-to-back against the Syracuse Orange. The Orange will host the Tigers on Friday at 6:00 p.m. before a Saturday 3:00 p.m. matinee back at Gene Polisseni Center.
Comments