ROCHESTER, New York - The American International College ice hockey team skated away with a 4-4 tie against the Rochester Institute of Technology on Saturday, February 5, completing the four-game Atlantic Hockey Association season series with eight of a possible 12 points.

FAST FACTS:
Final Score: RV AIC 4, RV RIT 4
Shootout: RIT wins, 2-1
Records: AIC stands at 15-10-2 on the year with a 14-5-1-0-0-2 AHA mark; RIT is now 13-11-4 with a 9-7-4-2-2-0 league record
Location: Gene Polisseni Center, Rochester, New York

KEY STATS:
RIT:
Gianfranco Cassaro: Two goals, one assist
Dan Willett: Two assists
Will Calverley: One goal, 12 faceoff wins
Grady Hobbs: One goal
Tommy Scarfone: Tie (3-4-1), 33 saves in 65:00

AIC:
Luka Maver: Two goals
Chris Van Os-Shaw: Two assists
Chris Theodore: Two assists
Eric Otto: Two assists
Zak Galambos: One goal, six blocked shots
Justin Young: One goal
Jake Kucharski: Tie (10-6-2), 22 saves in 65:00

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The two teams traded early goals, as AIC opened the scoring thanks to a turnover at the RIT blue line caused by Eric Otto; he dished back into the left circle for Chris Van Os-Shaw, who then found Luka Maver in the slot for a one-timer at 5:46 for his fifth of the year.
• RIT bounced right back, as Gianfranco Cassaro scored at 7:19 on a feed from Dan Willett, and Will Calverley struck on a power play at 10:13 to give RIT its first lead of the weekend.
• Down for the first time all weekend, AIC quickly rebounded as well, with Julius Janhonen driving the middle on a three-on-two. His attempt at the net was blocked, but bounced to Chris Theodore on the left side, and he fired back across for Justin Young to rip home his 10th of the season over the glove of Tommy Scarfone at 13:06.
• RIT retook the lead with exactly three minutes left in the period as Cassaro struck for the second time in the frame.
• AIC's defense got the offense going in the second period with the frame's first goal. Luis Lindner passed from right to left behind the net to Zak Galambos, who furthered the puck to Theodore before joining the rush. Theodore slid the puck back to Galambos across the blue line and Galambos cut past last defenseman before reversing to the left with his shot, beating Scarfone blocker side with his third of the year at 13:46.
• AIC retook the lead at 16:03 of the second, as Van Os-Shaw won a board battle along the right wing wall and pushed the puck toward the slot. Otto deflected it to Maver, who beat Scarfone with his sixth of the season.
• In the third, the Tigers re-tied the game, with Cassaro setting the tally up this time and Grady Hobbs netting the finish at 11:48.
• In overtime, RIT had an opportunity to win as the Tigers drew a penalty, but Jake Kucharski made three saves during the 4-on-3, and ultimately the game made it to the 65-minute mark even, putting the game into the books as a tie for national standings purposes.
• RIT took the extra AHA point by winning the shootout 2-1.

SEASON SERIES WRAP-UP:

• The Yellow Jackets took points in all four games against RIT, earning eight of the 12 available from the AHA.
• The Yellow Jackets outscored the Tigers 20-10 in the four games, including by a 15-6 mark at even strength.

NEXT UP:

• AIC and Army West Point play a home-and-home series, beginning at the MassMutual Center on Thursday, February 10 at 5:05 p.m. before shifting to Tate Rink on Saturday, February 12.
• Tickets to all AIC home ice hockey games are available at www.aicyellowjackets.com/hockeytickets.