Adam Mitchell’s overtime goal lifted Rochester Institute of Technology to a 3-2 victory over Robert Morris on Friday.
The Tigers won at home in the first conference game of the season. It also was the first time RIT has beaten Robert Morris; it was 0-1-1 against the Colonials entering the game.
Robert Morris lost for the first time this season.
Mitchell scooped up a loose puck after Adam Hartley won a faceoff in RIT’s zone. He beat the Colonials defense, and the puck slowly found its way to the net 3:41 into the extra session.
“He has played hard and deserves to be rewarded,” RIT coach Wayne Wilson said.
The Colonials (4-1, 3-1 Atlantic Hockey) outshot RIT in the first period 14-8 allowing for several scoring chances. Shane Madolora kept the Tigers (1-4-1, 1-0) in the game despite being outshot 36-28 overall.
“It was a good, even game,” Robert Morris coach Derek Schooley said. “Each team controlled certain parts of play.”
Robert Morris was first on the board 11:24 into the first period when Nick Chiavetta scored off a rebound from Furman South, who was previously stopped on two shots.
Minutes later, RIT answered with a goal from Nolan Descoteaux. Cameron Burt fed the puck in front of the net from the blue line for Descoteaux, who one-timed it into the top right corner over Brooks Ostergard’s shoulder.
RIT took the lead with the only goal of the second period. With 6:58 remaining, Michael Janda took a wrist shot from the top of the circle that trickled past Ostergard for a 2-1 lead.
Madolora came up with some huge saves in the third period and stopped 34 shots overall.
Tyler Brenner and Andrew Favot had consecutive 2-on-1 opportunities early in the third period but could not make it to the net.
Robert Morris’s Adam Brace had a chance to put the puck away with a backhand at the post, but Madolora’s leg stopped the shot.
Halfway through the power-play, Robert Morris’s Nathan Longpre tied the game at 2-2.
The Tigers return to play Saturday night at No. 14 Cornell for a non-conference game.
“We have a young team and they still need to find themselves,” Wilson said. “There will be trials and tribulations, and come Christmas we’ll know where we stand.”
