ROCHESTER, N.Y. – RIT senior Nate Senez recorded four points to lead the top-seeded Tigers to a 17-6 win against No. 5 seed Ithaca in the Liberty League Semifinal, Friday. RIT will host St. Lawrence in the Liberty League Championship.
Sixteen Tigers recorded at least one point led by Senez who finished with a goal and three assists. Sophomore Nick DiLauro and seniors Jack Budway and Sam Bennett each scored two goals. Junior Ethan Harkins tallied a goal and had two assists and sophomore Tyson Allison and graduate student Ian Dinga each scored a goal and an assist.
Fifth year Drew Leahy caused two turnovers, and fifth year Nick Farrell won 7-of-10 face offs and had two ground balls. Junior Alex Zborowski made six saves in goal to improve to 17-1.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Graduate student scored early in the first quarter to give RIT the lead.
- Kyle Savery scored for Ithaca with 9:12 remaining to tie the game at 1-1.
- Budway scored off an assist from Dinga with 2:53 to play in the opening frame to give the Tigers a 2-1 lead.
- RIT scored the first three goals of the second quarter, extending its lead to 5-1 on DiLauro's goal with 9:26 to play in the half.
- Lucas Proctor made it 5-2, RIT, with his goal with 9:16 to play in the second quarter.
- The Tigers ran off five straight goals to lead 10-2 at halftime. Sophomore Joe Holenstein, French, Senez, fifth year Michael Finneran and Allison each scored for RIT.
- RIT outscored the Bombers 6-0 in the third quarter to extend its lead to 16-2. Junior Cole Teeple, Harkins, sophomore David Charney, Budway and Bennett each tallied a goal in the third for the Tigers.
- Bennett scored his second of the game with 13:46 remaining in the fourth quarter to cap off RIT's 12-goal run and give the Tigers a 17-2 lead.
- Ithaca scored four straight goals, including one from Savery with 3:41 remaining in the fourth to make it a 17-6 final.
GAME NOTES:
- RIT outshot Ithaca, 50-30
- The Tigers were 20-of-20 on clearing attempts.
- RIT went 17-of-26 on face offs and had 44 ground balls
- RIT will play for its 12th Liberty League Tournament title
WHAT'S NEXT:
RIT returns to action on Sunday (May 4) in the Liberty League Championship versus St. Lawrence.