Box Score MILFORD, Conn. – The Sacred Heart men's hockey team was within one goal of the RIT Tigers heading into the final minute of regulation Sunday, but could not tie the game as RIT escaped the Milford Ice Pavilion with a 5-3 win.
Sacred Heart (9-13-3, 8-10-2 AHC) opened the scoring 6:08 into the first when Zach De Concilys took a blue line pass from Liam Clare in front of the net and was able to flip the puck past Christian Short for a power play goal. RIT (12-10-2, 12-5-1 AHC) tied the score with 7:55 remaining when Gabe Valenzuela took a loose puck and beat Brett Magnus.
The second period started slow but ended with a flurry. With 7:43 remaining, RIT took a 2-1 lead when Valenzuela stole the puck from Erlich Doerksen at the blue line and then blasted a shot past Magnus from just inside the left circle. Another defensive mistake led to the Tigers' third goal when another steal led to Myles Powell beating Magnus in close. Just 42 seconds later, RIT made it 4-1 when Chase Norrish took a corner pass from Todd Skirving and put the puck into the back of the net. Sacred Heart answered back quickly when on the ensuing faceoff, Zach Sabatini took a pass from Zach Luczyk and beat Short to cut the score to 4-2.
Sacred Heart started strong in the third as Evan Jasper's backhanded pass hit Justin Danforth in stride for a quick goal just 1:20 into the period and cut the RIT lead to 4-3. But the rally would fall short as Todd Skirving would add an empty net goal with 15 seconds remaining to seal the win for RIT.
For the game, Sacred Heart was 1-for-9 on the power play and RIT was 0-for-5. Sacred Heart outshot RIT 32-24. The five goals allowed is a season high for Sacred Heart at home this season.
Sacred Heart next plays at UConn, Tuesday Jan 26. Faceoff is 7:00 p.m. at the XL Center in Hartford.
FIRST PERIOD
- De Concilys' goal was his second of the season and his first since October 31 vs. Canisius.
- RIT outshot Sacred Heart 12-10 in the period.
- SHU was 1-for-4 on the power play. RIT was 0-for-2.
SECOND PERIOD
- With 12:41 left, Magnus made a nice stick save on a shot in front of the net by Caleb Cameron.
- Sacred Heart outshot RIT 10-8 in the period.
- Sabatini's goal was his third of the season.
THIRD PERIOD
- Jeff Carroll's slap shot with 7:26 remaining was gloved by Short.
- With 4:16 remaing, Jordan Minello's backhander when just high.
- Danforth's goal was his team-leading 13th of the season.
- Jasper's assist was his team-leading 16th.
