Findlay, OH -- Darcy Parsons (Darien, IL) scored two goals to lead the homestanding Findlay Oilers over Division III RIT, 7-3. With the victory, Findlay earned a weekend split with the Tigers, and took two of three games from RIT this season.
The game featured a whopping 23 power plays, many of them abbreviated due to overlapping penalty calls. RIT was 0 for 12 in power-play situations, while Findlay converted on three of eleven attempts.
The Tigers opened the scoring at 10:08 of the first period. Freshman Jaren Eydt (Stratford, ONT) beat Oiler goaltender Jim Brunner (Conneaut Lake, PA) with a shot just inside the near post.
Findlay scored on two consecutive power plays near the end of the period. The first was a pretty shot from senior captain Dave Bell (Oak Lawn, IL), while the second Findlay goal was set up by a screen in front of the Tiger net. RIT junior transfer Chris Sherman (Buffalo, NY), making his first collegiate start, never saw the shot from the high slot by Jeff Radzak (Elmhurst, IL). It was tipped in front by Darcy Parsons, and the Oilers had their first lead of the game at 19:37.
Senior defenseman Wes Blevins (Westland, MI) tied the score for RIT just 27 seconds into the second period, but Findlay came right back with a blast by Ben Patey (Sarnia, ONT) just 12 seconds later.
It was the first of five consecutive goals by the Oilers, which included another power play goal and two tallies in four-on-four situations. Due to the large number of penalties called, neither team established much of a rhythm in the second and third periods, but the Oilers made the most of their opportunities against Sherman, who appeared to struggle at times.
"We can't blame this on Chris Sherman," said RIT assistant coach Art Thomas. "We didn't give him any help all night, taking dumb penalties and not playing well in front of him. In terms of the effort he gave, Chris Sherman was one of our bright spots tonight."
The Tigers got the final goal of the evening at 14:45 of the third on a nice individual effort by Errol McDonald (Toronto, Ontario).
Sherman made 25 saves on 32 shots, while Brunner stopped 28 of 31 for the win.
"Any time you beat RIT, you can feel good about the way you played," said Findlay head coach Craig Barnett. "I thought our intensity was much better than last night and we killed a lot of penalties.
"We especially wanted to be stronger in the third period, and we were tonight. I think we can build on this game this week while we prepare for Air Force. It would have been a long week of practice if we'd have been swept."
Findlay opens their CHA schedule this weekend at Air Force. RIT is off until November 19th, when they host local rival Brockport State.