R.I.T. Drops Home Opener to Bowling Green

Courtesy of R.I.T. Sports Information

ROCHESTER, NY --  Kai Kantola's goal with 1.1 seconds remaining in the second period proved to be the game-winner as RIT fell to Bowling Green 5-3 in front of sold-out crowd on Friday evening at Ritter Arena. RIT had fought back from a two-goal deficit to tie the score at 3 late in the second period but could get the go-ahead goal.

"I thought the crowd was great," said RIT Head Coach Wayne Wilson. "We got flustered early all on our own doing and it cost us."

The lone goal in the first came on a 5-on-3 power play by Bowling Green. Derek Whitmore gave the Falcons the lead at 6:39 of the first. Kevin Schmidt took the shot from the point that Whitmore tipped over Louis Menard's (Chicoutimi, PQ) shoulder.

The Tigers came out flat in the first period but had a couple good scoring chances. Matt Smith's (Toronto, ON) had two great looks at goal but both chances doinked off the post.

RIT came out much more motivated in the second period, generating some good scoring chances.

"The second period was much better period than the first," said RIT Head Coach Wayne Wilson. "We fell apart for 30 second on a couple of occasions that cost us."

Matt Crowell (Kelowna, BC) tied the score for the Tigers with a power play goal at 5:36 of the second. Jesse Newman (Kelowna, BC) skated around the back of the net and spotted Crowell wide open. He slipped a pass to Crowell who flicked a hard wrist shot past Nick Eno, tying the score at 1-1.

Jacob Cepis made it 2-1 at 6:45 of the second with an unassisted goal. Whitmore struck for the second time at 9:06 of the second on assist from Tim Maxwell and Brandon Svendson.

Ricky Walton (Hamilton, ON) pulled the Tigers to within one goal with an unassisted goal at 14:27. He worked hard on the fore-check and swung around the back of the net, beating Eno on the short side.

Al Mazur (Burnaby, BC) tied the score at 3-3 with a power play goal at 15:47 of the second. He took a pass from Dan Ringwald (Oakville, ON) and nailed a shot past Eno for his first tally of the season.

Kantola broke RIT's momentum with 1.1 seconds to go in the second, tallying his first goal of the season, giving the Falcons a 4-3 lead and the momentum.

James Perkin added a goal in the third period to make it 5-3, Bowling Green.

Bowling Green out shot the Tigers 37-32. The Falcons went 2-for-7 with the power play, while RIT went 2-for-8.

Louis Menard took the loss for RIT, making 32 saves. Eno made 29 saves, allowing three goals and picking up the win.

The Tigers will face Cornell University next Saturday evening at 7:05 pm at Blue Cross Arena.