CLARKSON, NY -- Andy Ruocco's (Corning, NY/Corning East) goal with 36 seconds remaining in the third quarter proved to be the game-winner as #2 RIT (9-0) defeated Clarkson University 10-8 on Wednesday afternoon. Ruocco scored his second of the day on an assist from Scott Farress as time was running out in the third quarter.

Ruocco and Eric Pritchard (Webster, NY) gave RIT a 2-0 lead early in the first quarter. Clarkson responded with three unanswered goals to end the quarter, leading 3-2 at the end of the first. Senior goalie John Foley (Arthur, ON/Our Lady of Lourdes) tied the score at 3-3 with a rare goal from a goalie early in the second quarter.

The Golden Eagles took the lead back late in the half but Scott Farress (Webster, NY) tallied a pair of goals to give the Tigers a 5-4 lead heading into halftime.

Greg Gibbons tied the score at 5-5 with an even-strength goal at the 4:33 mark of the third quarter. RIT put some distance between themselves and Clarkson with a four-goal run to end the third quarter. Eric Pritchard made it 6-5 with a man-up goal on an assist from Ruocco.

Scott Farress tallied two straight goals to open up RIT's lead to 9-5. Ruocco rounded out the third-quarter scoring with his second goal of the contest with 36 seconds to play in the third. Clarkson scored three goals in the fourth quarter but it wasn't enough as Garrett Johnson scored his first goal of the season to give RIT a 10-8 victory.

Scott Farress scored four goals and Ruocco and Pritchard each had two goals apiece. John Foley made 10 saves in net, improving to 9-0 on the season. RIT and Clarkson each had 30 shots on the afternoon. The Tigers stopped all five of Clarkson's man-up opportunities and went 1-for-5 with the man-advantage.

RIT will host Empire 8 rival St. John Fisher College on Saturday, April 7 at 1:00 pm.

2007-04-04