Junior Mike Bournazakis scored three goals to lead RIT to a 5-0 victory over Oswego Friday night. Bournazakis pitched in one goal in each period, scoring two of those on power plays, to up his total to 13 goals on the season.
“Mike is a self-motivated and self-driven player,” said RIT coach Wayne Wilson. “He motivates himself with a love of the game.”
The other standout in the game for RIT was Tyler Euverman, who stopped all 25 shots that he faced and earned his eighth career shutout.
“I think he got challenged more as the game went on,” said Wilson. Euverman made several first-rate saves in the closing minutes of the game as Oswego mounted pressure.
Oswego (12-5) carried play early in the first period, putting strong pressure on the RIT zone. The Tigers didn’t get their first shot on Oswego netminder Joe Lofberg until six minutes into the period.
“Our job on the road is to weather the storm, particularly in the first five minutes,” said Wilson.
RIT (15-1) took advantage of its first break in the game, on the power play late in the first period. Bournazakis tallied his first goal of the night off a rebound at 16:44.
The pace of play picked up in the second period, with Oswego playing a more physical style, but Tiger Mike Tarantino scored on a great individual play just 59 seconds into the second stanza. Tarantino was forechecking near the Oswego blue line when he picked the pocket of Laker John Nadalin and broke towards Oswego’s net all alone. Tarantino finished the play by beating Lofberg for the goal.
Back-and-forth play continued through most of the second period, until Bournazakis scored again late. The puck popped out of the Oswego corner right onto Bournazakis’ stick, and he slid it home at the 18:26 mark of the period.
The third period was more of the same: Oswego mounting pressure, Euverman stoning it, and RIT converting on its chances.
Bournazakis finished off his hat trick with a power-play tally midway through the third period. The Tigers’ Jerry Galway and Sam Hill passed the puck down the slot towards the Oswego net, when Hill found Bournazakis alone on the far side of the crease, and Bournazakis slapped home the power-play tally at the 8:21 mark.
Michael Tucciarone finished off the game for RIT with a goal at 17:31 to give RIT the 5-0 victory.
“We know our job is only half done,” said Wilson. “And that Oswego will come out and play hard tomorrow night.”
These same two teams square up Saturday at RIT’s Ritter Arena to finish off the home-and-home series.
