Rochester, N.Y. – On the road, the Colonials fell to RIT in the first game of the series, 1-4. RMU is now 2-10-3 overall on the year and 1-8-2 in Atlantic Hockey matchups. The Tigers move up to 9-4-0 overall and 7-2-0 in conference play.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Through the first 20 minutes of play, the Tigers gave all they had on offense but netminder
Chad Veltri denied them every single time.
RIT received two power play chances in the first period. Veltri led the way for the penalty kill unit, making 11 stops a man down.
Registering 25 saves in the first period, Veltri almost tied his 2023-24 season-high record of 26 saves, which he did against Bentley (10/27). Those 26 saves are the most in one period across all Atlantic Hockey goaltenders this season.
Entering the middle frame, RIT started up the scoring as Caleb Moretz and Gianfranco Cassaro notched a goal each in the second period.
In the last 20 minutes, Carter Wilkie extended the Tigers lead to 3-0.
Battling till the end,
Logan Ganie sneaked in his fourth goal of the season.
After bringing the score within two, the Colonials pulled Veltri to put on the extra attacker. RIT took advantage and tapped in an empty-net goal to win the first game of the series, 4-1.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Graduate defenseman
Mitch Andres led all players on the ice in blocked shots (4). Six different Colonials paced for a team-high two shots on goal. On the penalty kill, the team killed off all three of RIT's power play opportunities. Captain
Rylee St. Onge dished out his second assist of the season and freshman
Tanner Klimpke officially became the first player on RMU this season to reach double-digits in points, with an assist off Ganie's goal. Klimpke now owns four goals and six assists in the campaign.
VELTRI MAKES HISTORY
With his 33
rd save of the game, hometown goaltender
Chad Veltri earned his 3,000
th career save against RIT. He officially became the 10th goaltender in AHA history to reach this milestone. From Pittsburgh, Pa., Veltri has been a rock in net for the Colonials, owning a .922 save percentage. In that category he ranks third in the conference. On the night, Veltri paced for 50 saves. This was the second time he's done so this season. He made 51 stops vs. Bentley (10/27), which ties the fifth-most saves ever recorded by a Colonial in program history.
UP NEXT
RMU will look to split the series against RIT tomorrow night in Rochester, N.Y. The puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
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