Colgate continued their domination over the Rochester Institute of Technology, beating the Tigers 4-1 to give Colgate a 9-1 all-time record against RIT, including a 4-0 mark since RIT went Division I.
“Overall, we played the type of game we wanted to play,” Colgate coach Don Vaughan said. “I felt they really took it to us in the second period and we didn’t respond well. But we came out strong in the third, which was our best period.”
“I thought they played very well,” RIT coach Wayne Wilson added. “I thought they were quick, battled, very sharp, on edge. They were just a better team tonight.”
Colgate’s forecheck in the second period was the difference in the game. It forced RIT into turnovers, enabling the Raiders to score two quick second-period goals to grab a 3-1 lead and Colgate never looked back.
“That’s the way we wanted to play,” Vaughn said. “I felt after that was when we played poorly in the second period, sitting back after taking the lead. Then we responded in the third.”
The first came at 7:59 when RIT lost control of the puck coming out from behind the net. Tyson Spink quickly passed it to a streaking Mike Borkowski, who easily fired it in from the slot.
Just 42 seconds later, another forced error on the forecheck put the puck on Darcy Murphy’s stick in the corner. He fed freshman Andrew Black at the right hash mark. Black’s shot beat Jordan Ruby near-side over the glove.
“He’s [Black] had just an unbelievable training camp from the very beginning of the year,” Vaughn said. “We knew we had a kid who can finish, but he’s a much more complete player than we had anticipated. I’m really thrilled.”
Colgate put the game away with a Joe Wilson power-play goal at 12:59 of the final period. His quick turnaround shot from the right dot left Ruby no chance.
Special teams was the theme of the first period. Eight penalties were called, including a major against Colgate for facemasking, leaving very little five-on-five play.
“It was surprising to have a chippy game like that when two teams don’t know each other,” Wilson said.
RIT took advantage of the odd-man play first when they were up by two men at 6:19. The Tigers’ point men switched positions as Brad Shumway dropped it off to Nolan Descoteaux, moving towards the right point. A quick slapshot resulted in a rebound in the slot. Ben Lynch was waiting for it to fire it in.
Almost five minutes later, Colgate tied it on the power play. Mike McCann’s shot from the top of the left circle found its way past Ruby, much to the disgust of the goalie.
The Raiders outshot RIT 36-17. Ruby made 32 saves in the losing effort, while Eric Mihalik got the win with 16 saves.
Colgate has already played three games (2-1) and will not play again until next weekend with a pair at Bowling Green.
RIT (0-1) next plays in its annual Brick City Homecoming and Family Weekend game in an already sold-out downtown Blue Cross Arena on Saturday against Michigan.
“We want this competition,” Wilson said. “We better rise to the occasion and play well. We like to showcase some of the best teams in the country.”
