Few games at any level of college hockey are decided in the first five minutes. The decisive moment of most games carries in to the third period, to the final moments, or even in to overtime.
But when RIT met Geneseo Tuesday night, the contest was pretty much over after just five minutes of play as the Tigers defeated Geneseo 12-2. RIT (5-0) scored four goals in a span of 1:48, with the fourth occurring only 5:19 in.
“We got off to a great start,” said RIT coach Wayne Wilson. “I’d rather put the pedal to the metal right off the bat, and then turn it lower, than have a slow start and have to yell at them later to get going.”
Sophomore Mike Tarantino got the scoring started at 3:31, the first goal of a hat trick on the night, one-timing in a cross-slot pass.
Lanner Fayad, Mike Bournazakis, and Ryan Franke chipped in the next three goals in succession to give RIT the commanding early lead.
After that, the game was pretty much one of spirited pond hockey. Some hits, some jawing, some tussles: but since the outcome of the game was essentially no longer in doubt, most of the emotion had run out.
Geneseo’s (1-7) two highlights came later in the game, with a goal in each of the second and third periods. Tony Scorsone scored 2:58 into the second on a great individual effort. He carried the puck in to the RIT zone, skated around a defender, and whipped a wrist shot into the lower corner of the net for the tally.
Paul Stasko notched the other Ice Knight tally midway through the third period, off a rebound on an odd-man rush.
In addition to Tarantino’s hat trick for RIT, co-captain Jerry Galway (2-2) and Jason Chafe (1-3) each notched four points.
