Peter Bournazakis scored three goals and added an assist to lead RIT over Connecticut College 11-3 in the first semifinal of the Air Force Academy Radisson Inn Tournament on Friday.
The junior from Toronto, Ontario, scored a goal in each period to pace the Tigers, who got goals from eight other players. In all, 15 of the 19 Tiger players dressed for the game figured in the scoring.
Neither team played well in its own zone, particularly the Camels, who surrendered three goals to the Tigers in a 2:32 span midway through the first period.
RIT freshman defenseman Ryan Fairbarn opened the scoring at 10:03 of the first on a feed from behind the net from Mike Tarantino. Mike Bournazakis quickly tallied at 11:51, and Brian Armes made it 3-0 at 12:35.
Pete Bournzakis scored his first of the game at 16:13 of the first, swatting home a rebound from the far post. At that point, Conn College coach Doug Roberts opted to change goaltenders, replacing starter Rob Houston with fellow sophomore Brett Roth.
Shots in the first period were 12-6 in favor of RIT.
The Camels came out flying to start the second period, and, aided by sloppy play by the Tigers in their own zone, tallied twice in the first seven minutes of the period to cut RIT’s lead in half. Ronnie LaRocca got Conn College on the board at 3:56, followed by Jesse LaRusso’s goal at 7:04. Both goals came off feeds from sophomore Adam Rogowin.
The straw that broke the Camels’ back was delivered by RIT winger Errol McDonald just 40 seconds after Conn College made it 4-2. McDonald took a clearing pass from RIT goalie Tyler Euverman, and skated the length of the ice for his sixth goal of the season.
RIT then rattled off two more goals to make it 7-2 before Matt Levinson, a Colorado native, got his third goal of the season at 16:40. As they did earlier in the period, the Tigers responded almost immediately, as Jared Conlon scored just 13 seconds later to make it 8-3 RIT.
The Camels outshot the Tigers 17-16 in the second, but were outscored 4-3.
Both teams mustered nine shots in the final period, but RIT scored three more goals during a 1:18 span. Two were on the power play, including Pete Bournazakis’ third of the game at 3:40. Bournazakis took a feed from captain Jerry Galway, and with his back to the net, put a backhander by Roth, who had come out to try to break up the play.
Lanner Fayad got the Tigers final goal at 4:48 as he intercepted a Conn College clearing pass and beat Roth through the legs.
Backup goaltender Rob Boope played the third period for the Tigers, allowing no goals on nine shots.
Third-ranked RIT (10-0), which has already captured the Fredonia, Chase Rochester Cup and Bowdoin/Colby tournaments, will face the host Air Force Falcons in the championship game on Saturday. Conn College (3-3-1) will play St. Michael’s in the consolation game.
