RIT 2, Army 1

ROCHESTER, N.Y.  – RIT scored twice the final eight minutes and came back to beat Army, 2-1, Saturday night in an Atlantic Hockey Association matchup at Frank Ritter Arena.

Army scored a short-handed goal in the second period before the Tigers stormed back to win their fourth game of the season in front of more than 1,900 fans.

RIT improved to 4-5-0 overall and 4-2-0 in conference play. Army fell to 1-6-2 overall and 0-3-1 in league games.

Army goalie Joe Spracklen, making his third start of the season, posted 31 saves while RIT’s Jared DeMichiel was credited with 23.

Cody Omilusik scored during a 5-on-3 RIT power play with an assist from Eric Sefchik for the Black Knights’ goal.

Army held a one-shot advantage in shots on goal during the first 20 minutes but neither team was able to break through.

Spracklen made two saves in the first 15 seconds of the game and each team killed off a power play opportunity.

With RIT players in the penalty box for cross checking and facemask, Army had a 5-on-3 advantage but could not break through. Sefchik had three of Army’s 10 shots and Marcel Alvarez a shot but DeMichiel was equal to the task.

Army struck first, scoring despite being two men down. With Black Knights in the penalty box for slashing and holding early in the second period, Sefchik picked up a partially blocked shot near the blue line and fed Omilusik who went high for his team-leading fifth goal of the season. Omilusik’s tally was Army’s third short-handed goal of the season and the fifth assist this year for Sefchik.

Each team had a power play chance but Spracklen turned in a strong second period with 15 saves as Army held its 1-0 advantage through two periods.

RIT tied the game with 8:18 left in the contest. Dan Ringwald was credited with the goal, when he poked the puck past a sprawling Spracklen.

RIT took its first lead with under three minutes to play during a 4-on-4 situation. It appeared an RIT player was in the crease, the puck may not have crossed the goal line and Spracklen pleaded interference but the officials debated the call before crediting Andrew Favot with the game-winning goal at the 2:48 mark.

Army used its timeout but was unable to secure the tying goal.

Army will return to Tate Rink Friday for the start of a home-and-home series with American International. Friday’s game at West Point and Saturday’s contest at the Olympia Ice Center in West Springfield, Mass., will begin at 7:05 p.m.

GAME NOTES: Lt. Col Ted Reich, of the English Department, served as the team’s Officer Representative … Army’s starting lineup consisted of Owen Meyer, Eric Sefchik, Cody Omilusik, John Clark and Marcel Alvarez, with Joe Spracklen in net … Cody Omilusik scored his 27th career goal with a short-handed tally. It was his fifth career short-handed goal … Army and RIT will play a two-game series at West Point Feb. 12-13 … Army’s Eric Sefchik was the first star of the game.

RIT 2, ARMY 1
ARMY        0-1-0—1
RIT        0-0-2—2

First Period:
None.

Second Period:
ARMY – Omilusik (Sefchik), SH, 1:09

Third Period:
RIT – Ringwald (Burt, Knowles), 11:42
RIT – Favot (Murphy), 17:14

Shots: Army 24 (10-5-9); RIT 33 (9-15-9)
Saves: Army 31 (J. Spracklen, 60:00, 9-15-7); RIT 23 (DeMichiel, 60:00, 10-4-9)
Power Plays: Army 0-4; RIT 0-6
Penalties: Army 7-14; RIT 5-10
Attendance: 1956