The RIT men’s hockey team (6-4-1, 4-2-1 AHA) lost a heartbreaker on the road against the #13 Northeastern University Huskies (8-3-1) on Nov. 24, 2018. The game took place in Matthews Arena located in Boston, Massachusetts.
The Huskies, despite not being in the Atlantic Hockey Association, are a familiar foe for the Tigers — notably facing them in the 2017 Homecoming game.
Avenging Against the Huskies
In the 2017 Homecoming game, the Tigers tied the Huskies 3-3, despite taking a 3-0 lead early on in the matchup. A year later, RIT was ready to make a comeback and take care of business on the road.
Second year Civil Engineering Technology major and forward for RIT, Alden Dupuis, felt as though the team was going to earn the victory.
“I think it does push us harder. Northeastern is always a top team and we know we were able to tie them last year,” he explained. “I thought we could have had the win, should have had the win, but tying them is a good accomplishment and I think that will push us towards the win this year.”
Second year Business Management major and goalie for RIT, Logan Drackett, was coming off his first collegiate shutout (against Canisius on Nov. 13, 2018). He started in net against the Huskies last year and felt prepared to get a second crack at them.
“I think we just need to play our game. We know that they are a very skilled team and they like to play at chances of the rush, so we need to play solid defensively and not think too much into it. They are a good team, but we feel like we are a good team too and we need to play like we normally play,” he said.
“I think we just need to play our game.”
Close, But No Cigar
The RIT hockey team got off to a rough start against the Northeastern squad. According to RIT athletics, with just over a minute into the game, Zach Solow trickled the puck past Tigers goalie, Drackett. The goal went under review, but the referees concurred that the puck went past the goal line, giving the Huskies a 1-0 lead.
Later in the first period, Drackett tried to play the puck behind the net, but the puck bounced the wrong direction and out into the open ice. Liam Pecaraco of the Huskies capitalized on this opportunity and scored on an open net. Northeastern went up 2-0. The goals were a little over a minute apart.
The Tigers had a few chances but could not get a goal and went into the locker room down by two goals at the end of the first period.
Our hockey team came into the second period with brute force and with a scoring mentality.
Third year Finance major and defenseman for the Tigers, Brody Valette started off the scoring for RIT in the second period. He deflected the puck past goalie Cayden Primeau of the Huskies and scored his first goal of the season. The Tigers cut the lead to one.
Three minutes later, third year Business Marketing major and defenseman for the Tigers, Adam Brubacher, scored his first goal of the season. RIT cut the lead and tied the Huskies, 2-2.
Not long after, Dupuis kept the momentum up by scoring a goal, giving the Tigers their first lead of the game at 3-2 on a 3-on-2 opportunity.
RIT continued the high-pressured offense and kept the lead. The second period ended 3-2 in the Tigers' favor.
Mid-way in the third period, Grant Jozefek scored for the Huskies off of a rebound, tying the game by a score of 3-3.
The Huskies continued to take advantage of the momentum, as Tyler Madden tipped the puck in between Drackett’s legs, giving them a 4-3 lead with five minutes left in the third period.
The Tigers pulled Drackett with two minutes left in the third period and got the extra man on the ice. RIT could not capitalize on this and lost the game, 4-3.
Both teams registered 31 shots total in the match. They both also had three powerplays each, but neither side could score on them. For RIT, Drackett stopped 27 of 31 (.871) shots, while Northeastern's Primeau saved 28 of 31 (.903) shots.
Coming Back Home
Despite the close loss against the Northeastern Huskies, our men’s hockey team will come back to the Gene Polisseni Center for a few home matches.
They will face the Air Force Academy Falcons (6-6, 6-4 AHA) on Nov. 30, 2018 and Dec.1, 2018.
The following week, RIT will host the Sacred Heart University Pioneers (2-7-2, 2-5-1 AHA) on Dec. 7, 2018 and Dec. 8, 2018.
The Tigers look to get back on their winning streak and will hopefully get the perfect opportunity back in Rochester, as they are perfect at home games so far in the 2018–19 season.
