MILFORD, Conn. – The Sacred Heart men's hockey team scored first Saturday night against the RIT Tigers, but RIT scored two goals in 30 seconds on its way to a 3-1 win at the Milford Ice Pavilion.

Sacred Heart (6-15-3, 5-10-3 AHC) goaltender Alex Vazzano (Trumbull, Conn.) withstood a barrage of RIT shots in the first period. Vazzano made 14 saves in the first period, as the Pioneers and Tigers skated to a scoreless tie after 20 minutes. Sacred Heart had five shots on goal in the period. RIT went 0-for-2 on the power play in the first period.

The Pioneers broke the tie 4:49 into the period. Junior Zach Luczyk (Charlton, Mass.) scored his ninth goal of the season from the wing, finishing off a rush that was started by Mitch Nylen (Lawrenceville, Ga.) and Zach Sabatini (Johns Creek, Ga.). RIT (8-10-4, 7-5-4 AHC) responded at the 14:39 mark. With the Tigers on the power play, Caleb Cameron got a pass from Chase Norrish in the slot and fired a high shot past Vazzano to tie the game 1-1. Thirty seconds later, RIT took the lead. Brad Shumway fired a shot from the point that was going to go wide of the goal, but Myles Powell was right at the goal post to redirect the puck into the net and give the Tigers a 2-1 advantage heading into the third period. Sacred Heart tried getting the game back level in the third with nine shots on goal, but RIT tacked on a power play goal with 0:13 remaining to make the final score 3-1.

RIT outshot Sacred Heart 42-25. The Tigers were 2-for-6 on the power play, while the Pioneers went 0-for-5 with the man advantage. Mike Rotolo made 24 saves for RIT, as Vazzano had 39 saves for the Pioneers.

Sacred Heart closes out its current homestand next weekend with two games against Mercyhurst, beginning Friday Jan. 23 at 7:05 p.m.