ROCHESTER, N.Y.-Although the American International ice hockey team was able to come back from a 2-0 deficit, the RIT Tigers took a 3-2 Atlantic Hockey victory at the Ritter Arena tonight.

RIT struck twice in the opening frame as freshman forward Todd Skirving tallied at 5:46 of the period and junior forward Brad McGowan netted a goal on the power play at 17:07 to give the Tigers an early-game lead.

However, the Yellow Jackets settled down and played a much better second period, capping the frame with a late power-play marker of their own as senior captain and center Blake Peake (Lethbridge, Alb.) found junior center Alexander MacMillan (Calgary, Alb.) for his team-best seventh of the year at 15:34.

The Jackets then tied the game when senior left wing Jon Puskar (Canton, Mich.) stole the puck at his own blue line and roared in on a breakaway, blowing a puck by freshman goalkeeper Mike Ritolo at 7:32 of the final frame.

However, the rookie Skirving would score the game-winner, striking on a one timer from just outside the crease and at the left goal post where he was left open at 11:48.

Ritolo made 30 saves in the victory to improve to 4-0-0 on the year, while AIC freshman Hunter Leisner (Garland, Texas) had 32 saves in the loss to fall to 1-3-0 on the campaign.

AIC and RIT close out the regular season series tomorrow at 7:05 p.m. at the Ritter Arena.