HENRIETTA, N.Y. (WROC) — Last year was supposed to be the season that saw RIT return to the NCAA Tournament.
They won the regular season conference title and earned home ice throughout the playoffs. But instead, the Tigers suffered a blowout loss in the semifinals to seventh-seeded Holy Cross, leaving them with a lot of what-ifs and motivation heading into this season.
“As we progressed through the season, we were trying to learn different lessons along the way that will help us in the playoffs,” head coach Wayne Wilson said. “The playoffs got our attention. We were disappointed last year, but we're very hungry this year and it shows in some of the results.”
“It's just in the back of my mind, so we'll use that as motivation and fuel heading into the weekend,” fifth-year defenseman Gianfranco Cassaro said.
The Tigers will get a chance for revenge this Saturday as they play a one-game winner-take-all conference final against AIC on Saturday to earn a spot in the NCAA Tournament.
There have been no blunders so far in the playoffs, with the Tigers dominating each of the best-of-three series.
“Everyone goes, the coaches go, the players go, everyone motivates each other,” graduate forward Ilya Goncalves said. “That's really all we can ask for at this time of the year. We're trying to take care of ourselves as best we can off the ice, which has been very good for us.”
The Tigers are on a six-game winning streak, winning each of their four playoff games by at least three goals. These lessons they learned last year are definitely paying off.
“I think I felt a little bit of pressure last year,” Wilson said. “During the regular season, we finished in first place and we were trying to protect that a little bit. I think we've been chasing our game instead of being hunted.”
This is the program's first tournament berth since 2016, and the Tigers are eager to get back on the national stage.
“I moved here three years ago to win, so just getting this opportunity is special,” Cassaro said. “It would be great to have this group of players, this program, this coaching staff, and be able to represent this school.”
“It means the world to me,” Gonsalves said. “That’s been my goal since the first day I’ve been here, so I’m going to accomplish that on Saturday.”
RIT fans are looking forward to Saturday as well. The Gene Polisseni Center sold out in just hours after tickets went on sale, and the team is extremely grateful for the support they have received throughout the season.
Puck drop with AIC will take place Saturday at 7:05 p.m.
