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DITULLIO: HELLO AND WELCOME TO
RIT SPORTSZONE. I'M JOHN
DITULLIO. CLARK: AND I'M EMILY
CLARK. WITH JUST TEN GAMES
REMAINING IN THE REGULAR SEASON
THE RIT MEN'S HOCKEY TEAM HAS
PLENTY OF WORK TO DO IF THEY
HOPE TO SECURE FIRST ROUND BYE
IN NEXT MONTH'S ATLANTIC HOCKEY
ASSOCIATION PLAYOFFS. DITULLIO:
THE TIGERS HOSTING HOLY CROSS IN
A PIVOTAL WEEKEND SERIES AT THE
RITTER. IN THE SECOND TIED AT
TWO, SHANE STOCKTON SCORES
UNASSISTED TO GIVE THE CRUSADERS
A THREE TWO LEAD HEADING INTO
THE THIRD. BUT THE TIGERS WOULD
ANSWER ON THE POWER PLAY. SENIOR
MIKE COLAVECCHIA SCORES HIS TEAM
LEADING ELEVENTH GOAL OF THE
SEASON TO TIE THE GAME AT THREE.
WE GO TO OVERTIME AND THE EXTRA
SESSION. RIT WITH A GOLDEN
OPPORTUNITY. JOSH MITCHELL GOES
FOR THE WRAPAROUND BUT THE PUCK
IS KNOCKED AWAY. RIT AND HOLY
CROSS WOULD SKATE TO A THREE ALL
TIE. GAME TWO OF THE WEEKEND
SERIES. PICK IT UP IN THE FIRST.
TIGERS WITH A POWER PLAY, GREG
NOYES SCORES TO PUT THE TIGERS
AT TWO ONE. IT STAYED THAT WAY
UNTIL THE THIRD WHEN ADAM
SCHMIDT GOT THE EQUALIZER
(INAUDIBLE), ONE OF TWO GOALS ON
THE NIGHT FOR SCHMIDT. THEN WITH
FOUR FORTY ONE LEFT IN
REGULATION, MIKE BARRETT SCORES
TO PUT THE CRUSADERS UP FOR
GOOD. THEY ADDED AN EMPTY NETTER
AND HOLY CROSS BEAT THE TIGERS
FOUR TO TWO. RIT IN NOW WINLESS
IN ITS LAST FOUR GAMES. CLARK:
WELL WHEN THE HOCKEY SEASON
BEGAN THERE WAS NO QUESTION WHO
WOULD BE IN BETWEEN THE PIPES,
BUT WHEN JORDAN RUBY AND THE
TIGERS MANAGES TO WIN JUST ONCE
IN THEIR FIRST TEN GAMES, HEAD
COACH WAYNE WILSON DECIDED TO
MAKE A CHANGE. DITULLIO: AND AS
MELISSA BROMLEY REPORTS, IT WAS
A DREAM COME TRUE FOR ONE
FRESHMAN GOALTENDER WHO GREW UP
WATCHING TIGER HOCKEY. BROMLEY:
MIKE ROTOLO GREW UP WATCHING RIT
HOCKEY AT THE RITTER ARENA,
HOPING ONE DAY HE'D BE A TIGER.
NOW INITIALLY YOU WEREN'T
COMMITTED TO RIT. CAN YOU
EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPENED? ROTOLO:
YEAH. I COMMITTED TO ST.
LAWRENCE, IT WAS MY FIRST YEAR
OF JUNIORS, AROUND CHRISTMASTIME
AND THEY OFFERED ME AND I HAD
BEEN TALKING TO RIT AS WELL BUT
THE TIMING WAS A LITTLE
DIFFERENT. I THINK RIT WANTED ME
SOONER, ST. LAWRENCE WANTED ME A
LITTLE BIT LATER AND I WANTED TO
STAY IN THE USHL ANOTHER YEAR SO
I TALKED TO MY FAMILY AND I
DECIDED TO CHOOSE ST. LAWRENCE.
AND THAT WAS THE PLAN ORIGINALLY
AND THEN THEY HAD A COACHING
CHANGE AND WE KIND OF GOT ON THE
WRONG FOOT AND WE BUTTED HEADS A
LITTLE BIT, BUT HE WAS A GOOD
GUY, THEY HAVE A GOOD TEAM OVER
THERE, BUT I KNEW IT WASN'T THE
RIGHT FIT AND I HAD ALWAYS
WANTED TO BE A TIGER ANYWAYS.
NEW SPEAKER: DOWN LOW HE'S
ALLOWED TO (INAUDIBLE) OR
ANYTHING HE WANTS TO DO.
BROMLEY: NOW WHAT WAS IT ABOUT
RIT THAT BROUGHT YOU HERE?
ROTOLO: NUMBER ONE, IT'S MY
HOMETOWN. YOU KNOW, A LOT OF
KIDS SAY, I'VE GOT TO GET OUT OF
THIS TOWN. I WANT TO GET OUT OF
HERE TO PLAY COLLEGE. I DON'T
BELIEVE IN THAT. WHEN YOU'VE GOT
SOMETHING AS GOOD AS YOU HAVE IT
HERE, DIVISION ONE HOCKEY IN
YOUR HOMETOWN, HOW CAN YOU TURN
IT DOWN? AND WHEN WILSON GAVE ME
THE OFFER I THINK IT TOOK ME
ABOUT FIVE MINUTES TO SAY YES.
BROMLEY: ROTOLO SPENT THE FIRST
TEN GAMES OF THE SEASON WATCHING
JUNIOR JORDAN RUBY PLAY BEFORE
HE FINALLY GOT THE NOD.
BATTAGLIA: THERE YOU SEE THE
TALK OF THE TOWN. MIKE ROTOLO
CERTAINLY GIVING THIS TIGER TEAM
A SPARK. ROTOLO: I REMEMBER IT.
I WOKE UP THAT MORNING AND COACH
TEXTED ME AND SAID YOU'LL BE IN
THE PIPES TONIGHT AND RIGHT FROM
THERE IT WAS PURE EXCITEMENT. MY
DAD WAS AT WORK THAT SATURDAY
MORNING. I TEXTED HIM TO TELL
HIM AND HE SPREAD THE WORD TO
ABOUT 30 RELATIVES AND THEY ALL
SHOWED UP THAT NIGHT AND IT
WASN'T ONE OF MY BEST GAMES, BUT
WE GOT THE WIN AND THAT'S WHAT
WAS MOST IMPORTANT AND I WAS
EXCITED ABOUT THAT. BROMLEY:
IRONICALLY, ROTOLO'S FIRST
COLLEGIATE WIN CAME AGAINST THE
SCHOOL HE HAD ORIGINALLY
COMMITTED TO. WERE YOU IMPRESSED
WITH MIKE WHEN HE GOT THAT FIRST
START BACK IN NOVEMBER? WILSON:
YES I WAS. ST. LAWRENCE, A VERY
GOOD TEAM, HAD BEATEN US THE
NIGHT BEFORE. IT WAS NON
CONFERENCE SO WE FELT THAT WE
COULD PUT HIM IN AND IT WASN'T
ANYTHING THAT WAS GOING TO
HAPPEN STANDINGS WISE BUT STILL
HAVE A GOOD TEST AND GET A GOOD
READ ON WHERE HE WAS IN THE
PROCESS AND HE CAME IN AND HAD A
GOOD GAME. THE GAME, HE PROBABLY
WOULD HAVE LIKE TO HAVE MADE A
COUPLE SAVES AT THE END OF THAT
GAME BECAUSE IT GOT A LITTLE
INTERESTING BUT HE PLAYED VERY
WELL IN THAT GAME. BATTAGLIA:
TWO ON ONE GOING THE OPPOSITE
WAY, GOOD SHOT, ROTOLO MAKES THE
SAVE. ROTOLO: FOR EVERY GAME I
GET NERVOUS. IT WAS MAYBE A
LITTLE MORE BECAUSE IT'S IN MY
HOME TOWN AND IT'S MY FIRST
COLLEGE START, BUT I DON'T
BELIEVE WHEN PEOPLE SAY THEY'RE
NOT NERVOUS BEFORE GAMES. YOU
ALWAYS HAVE EITHER GOOD NERVES
OR BAD NERVES, BUT IT WAS
EXCITING NERVES THAT NIGHT AND
WHEN THEY CALLED MY NAME FOR THE
STARTING LINEUP IT WAS A PRETTY
COOL EXPERIENCE. WILSON: I
THOUGHT HIS DEMEANOR PRIOR TO
THE GAME GAVE US CONFIDENCE,
VERY TALKATIVE, A LOT OF FIGHT
IN HIM, COMPETITIVE, BUT VERY
VOCAL. YOU DON'T ALWAYS GET THAT
IN A GOALTENDER AND WE JUST
THOUGHT WE'D JUST CHANGE THE
TEMPO AND WE DIDN'T REALIZE HOW
MUCH WE HAD CHANGED IT WITH MIKE
JUST BECAUSE OF HIS PERSONALITY
HELPED HIM AND OUR TEAM AT THAT
PARTICULAR TIME. BATTAGLIA:
QUICK SHOT, ROTOLO GIVING UP A
REBOUND BUT HE'LL (INAUDIBLE).
BROMLEY: ROTOLO AND THE TIGERS
WENT UNBEATEN IN THE FIRST FIVE
GAMES, BUT A SLOW START TO THE
NEW YEAR COST THE FRESHMAN HIS
STARTING SPOT FOR NOW. ROTOLO:
IT'S TOUGH NOT BEING IN THERE.
OBVIOUSLY EVERYBODY WANTS TO
PLAY, BUT JORDAN RUBY IS A GREAT
GUY AND A GREAT GOALIE. A GOOD
MENTOR TO LEARN FROM AND YOU
KNOW, WE BATTLE HARD IN PRACTICE
AND HE'S PLAYING WELL RIGHT NOW
SO I'VE JUST GOT TO KEEP WORKING
HARD AND JUST WAIT FOR MY NEXT
CHANCE AND IF I GET IT, YOU
KNOW, YOU'VE JUST GOT TO GRAB IT
AND GO WITH IT. WILSON: I THINK
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO TRY
AND DO RIGHT NOW IF JORDAN'S ON
A ROLL HE'S GOING TO GO, AND IF
HE HAS A TOUGH TIME OR WHATEVER,
WE CAN ALWAYS PUT MIKE IN. I
THINK THEN HE CAN RUN WITH IT
FOR A WHILE AND THAT'S JUST HOW
WE'RE GOING TO APPROACH THE
FINISH LINE HERE AS WE GO ALONG.
THERE'S NOT A LOT OF GAMES LEFT,
BUT YOU DON'T WANT TO HAVE BOTH
GUYS HAVING DIFFICULTY GETTING
THEIR CONFIDENCE BY PLAYING JUST
ONE GAME A WEEK. BROMLEY:
KNOWING THAT RIT WASN'T YOUR
FIRST CHOICE, ARE YOU HAPPY WITH
YOUR DECISION AND ARE YOU HAPPY
WITH THE SUPPORT THAT YOU'VE
GOTTEN FROM THE COMMUNITY?
ROTOLO: I WOULDN'T SAY IT WASN'T
MY FIRST CHOICE. GROWING UP I
ALWAYS TOLD MY DAD I WANTED TO
BE A TIGER AND WHEN IT COMES TO
THAT POINT YOU KNOW, YOU'RE
CHOOSING BETWEEN COLLEGES IT'S
REALLY TOUGH AND MY HEART WAS
ALWAYS WITH RIT, BUT YOU KNOW,
THE OFFER FROM ST. LAWRENCE WAS
REALLY INTRIGUING AND I LIKE THE
OLD COACHING STAFF, BUT MY HEART
WAS ALWAYS WITH RIT AND I'M
PRETTY EXCITED THAT I ENDED UP
GETTING THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE
HERE. BATTAGLIA: THREE TO TWO
AND THERE YOU SEE MIKE ROTOLO
ALL FIRED UP. DITULLIO: STANDING
TALL, MIKE ROTOLO. NEW SPEAKER:
DITULLIO: WELCOME BACK TO
SPORTSZONE. IN A FEW SHORT WEEKS
RIT HOCKEY WILL SAY GOODBYE TO
RITTER ARENA. CLARK: IN JANUARY,
AS PART OF THE SEASON'S FAREWELL
TO THE HISTORIC VENUE, RIT
HONORED THOSE WHO CONTRIBUTED TO
THE SCHOOL'S STORIED HOCKEY
HISTORY. SPORTSZONE'S MELISSA
BROMLEY WAS THERE. BROMLEY: AS
RIT TOOK ON NIAGARA IN THE LAST
SEASON HERE AT RITTER ARENA, RIT
HONORED PAST PLAYERS, COACHES
AND CHAMPIONS AS A TRIBUTE TO
THE SUCCESS OF THE CHERISHED
ARENA. BATTAGLIA: THE RIT TIGERS
OF 1985. BROMLEY: WHAT'S IT LIKE
BEING BACK AT RIT AFTER ALL OF
THESE YEARS? NEW SPEAKER: IT'S
GREAT SEEING SOME OLD FRIENDS
AND SOCIALIZE WITH SOME OLD
FRIENDS I HADN'T SEEN FOR A
WHILE, BUT I'M JUST REALLY
AMAZED AT THE FACILITIES SINCE I
LEFT HERE IN 1983, WHAT A GREAT
JOB THEY'VE DONE IN THE RINK AND
THE DRESSING ROOM FACILITIES.
NEW SPEAKER: IT'S GREAT. IT'S
LIKE WE NEVER LEFT EACH OTHER.
YOU KNOW, I HAVEN'T SEEN SOME OF
THESE GUYS FOR YEARS AND NOW TO
COME BACK AND I CAN BE A PART OF
THIS EVENT, IT JUST BRINGS BACK
A LOT OF GREAT MEMORIES. NEW
SPEAKER: IT REALLY MEANS A LOT.
TO THINK ABOUT YOUR FOUR YEARS
AND MEMORIES HERE AT THE RITTER
ARENA IS AMAZING, BUT WHEN YOU
THINK ABOUT THE 83 TEAM, THE 85
TEAM AND ALL THE MEMORIES, ALL
THE YEARS AT THE RITTER IT
REALLY MEANS A LOT. BROMLEY: NOW
YOU WON TWO NATIONAL
CHAMPIONSHIPS HERE. CAN YOU TALK
A BIT ABOUT THAT AND WHAT THAT
WAS LIKE FOR YOU AS A PLAYER?
NEW SPEAKER: IT WAS PROBABLY THE
MOST EXCITING TIME OF MY LIFE,
TO BE HONEST WITH YOU. I MEAN I
COACH BACK HOME IN PHILADELPHIA
RIGHT NOW, I COACH A HIGH SCHOOL
HOCKEY TEAM AND I BRING UP THE
MEMORIES, THE TRADITIONS THAT WE
HAD HERE UP IN COLLEGE AND I
SHARE THEM WITH OUR TEAM AND
IT'S JUST A PART OF OUR
EXPERIENCE THAT WE SHARE WITH
THEM THAT WILL BE EVERLASTING
GOING FORWARD. BROMLEY: WHAT WAS
IT LIKE SEEING THE 83 AND 85
PLAYERS? NEW SPEAKER: WELL, YOU
KNOW THAT WAS A SPECIAL TIME IN
MY LIFE AND A SPECIAL TIME IN
THE LIFE OF OUR HOCKEY PROGRAMS.
THE FIRST NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP!
NO ONE EVER THOUGHT WE WERE
GOING TO WIN, NO ONE EVER
THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO BE IN
THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP, LET
ALONE WIN IT. PEOPLE WEREN'T
EVEN TALKING ABOUT IS. WHAT THEY
DID SAY WAS A PRETTY GOOD
ACADEMIC INSTITUTION, BUT WE
DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOUR HOCKEY
PROGRAM. WELL THAT NIGHT, THE
NEXT NIGHT, WE BEAT LOWELL.
LOWELL HADN'T LOST A HOME GAME
IN 35 GAMES AND THE NEXT NIGHT
WE BEAT (INAUDIBLE) FOR THE
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP. WE JUST
WENT WILD. IT WAS JUST THE MOST
AMAZING THING. NEW SPEAKER: I
REMEMBER COMING INTO CAMPUS AND
BOBBY CHARLES SAYS, COACH, WHAT
HAPPENS IF NOBODY'S THERE TO
GREET US? AND WE PULLED IN AND
THERE MUST HAVE BEEN TEN
THOUSAND PEOPLE THERE WAITING
FOR US. SO WE CAME OFF THE BUS
AND THEY'RE CHEERING, THEY'RE
LIFTING ME, WE GO INTO THE
GYMNASIUM, WE HAD A PEP RALLY, I
MEAN IT WAS JUST SO EXCITING AND
OUR KIDS DESERVED IT. YOU REALLY
CAN'T PUT IT INTO WORDS. IT'S A
GREAT TIME AND EVERY TIME WE
THINK ABOUT IT WE JUST HAVE SO
MUCH FUN REMINISCING ABOUT IT.
BROMLEY: WHAT'S ONE OF YOUR
FONDEST MEMORIES OF RITTER
ARENA? NEW SPEAKER: PROBABLY THE
CORNER CREW AND THE BAND.
PROBABLY THE WAY IT WOULD GIVE
US THAT SECOND ADVANTAGE, IF YOU
WILL, IN TIGHT GAMES. IT WAS
JUST PART OF AN ATMOSPHERE YOU
JUST CAN'T GET ANYWHERE ELSE.
NEW SPEAKER: OH, IT WAS
UNBELIEVABLE. THERE WAS NOTHING
BETTER AS A COLLEGE STUDENT AND
COMING TO THE FRANK RITTER AND
PUTTING YOUR JERSEY ON AND GOING
OUT. THIRTY YEARS AGO WAS THE
INFANCY OF THE CORNER CREW AND
SUCH AND TO SEE WHAT IT'S GROWN
INTO TODAY IS PHENOMENAL AND I'M
CERTAINLY PROUD TO WEAR THE RIT
SWEATER. BROMLEY: NEXT TIME
YOU'LL BE BACK AT RIT IT WON'T
BE AT THE RITTER, IT WILL BE AT
THE POLISSENI CENTER. WHAT DOES
THAT SAY FOR THE GROWTH OF THIS
PROGRAM? NEW SPEAKER: IT'S A
HUGE STEP FOR THEM. YOU KNOW, IT
SHOULD JUST TAKE THEM TO ANOTHER
LEVEL IN REGARDS TO RECRUITING
AND SUCH. AND IT'S GOOD FOR OUR
LEAGUE, IT'S GOOD FOR ATLANTIC
HOCKEY TO EXPAND OUR BUILDINGS
AND MAKE IT A BETTER STUDENT
ATHLETE EXPERIENCE FOR OUR
LEAGUE. SO IT'S GOING TO BE SAD
LEAVING HERE FOR THE LAST TIME,
BUT I CAN'T WAIT TO BE IN THE
NEW BUILDING NEXT YEAR. NEW
SPEAKER: WELL I'LL BE HONEST
WITH YOU: I'M REALLY GOING TO
MISS THIS PLACE, IT WAS REALLY
SPECIAL OBVIOUSLY FOR PLAYING
HERE, BUT YOU KNOW, I'M REALLY
EXCITED ABOUT THE NEW VENUE
ACROSS THE STREET AND IT'S GOING
TO BRING BACK A LOT OF MEMORIES
BUT IT'S ALSO GOING TO BRING IN
AND ATTRACT A LOT OF NEW PEOPLE.
NEW PEOPLE TO RIT, NEW PEOPLE TO
ROCHESTER HOCKEY AND NEW PEOPLE
TO THE GREAT SPORT OF HOCKEY.
NEW SPEAKER: I THINK IT WILL BE
AWESOME. IT WILL BE GREAT FOR
RECRUITING TO HAVE THE NEW
FACILITIES, IT'S GREAT TO HAVE
THE DRESSING ROOMS BUT HAVING
THE NEW RINK I THINK IS AWESOME.
BROMLEY: ARE YOU GOING TO BE SAD
TO SEE RITTER GO? NEW SPEAKER:
I'M GOING TO BE VERY SAD. I'M
GOING TO BE HERE FOR THAT LAST
REGULAR SEASON GAME. REALLY A
SPECIAL PART OF MY LIFETIME FOR
ME AND MY FAMILY. CLARK: THE RIT
WOMEN WILL PLAY THEIR FINAL GAME
AT RITTER ARENA ON FEBRUARY
TWENTY FIRST AGAINST SYRACUSE.
THE MEN WILL CLOSE OUT THEIR
FORTY SIXTH AND FINAL SEASON AT
RITTER ON MARCH FIRST AGAINST
CONESUS. DITULLIO: BOTH TEAMS
THEN WILL MOVE INTO THE NEW
FORTY TWO HUNDRED SEAT POLISSENI
CENTER NEXT FALL. NEW SPEAKER:
CLARK: THE RIT WOMEN'S HOCKEY
TEAM IS INELIGIBLE TO COMPETE IN
THE NCAA TOURNAMENT UNTIL NEXT
SEASON, BUT THE TIGERS ARE IN
THE HUNT FOR A CONFERENCE
CHAMPIONSHIP. DITULLIO: RIT
HOSTING LINDENWOOD AT RITTER
ARENA. FIRST PERIOD ACTION JUST
SEVENTEEN SECONDS INTO THE GAME
AND MARISSA MAUGERI LIGHTS THE
LAMP TO GIVE THE TIGERS A ONE
NOTHING LEAD. PERIOD WINDING
DOWN, TIGERS ON THE POWER PLAY.
KOURTNEY KUNICHIKA SCORES AS THE
TIGERS SHUT OUT LINDENWOOD TWO
ZIP. CLARK: WELL YOU MAY HAVE
NOTICED THAT THE TIGERS WEREN'T
WEARING THEIR TRADITIONAL HOME
JERSEYS AGAINST LINDENWOOD. WE
SENT SPORTSZONE'S TAYLOR BEATTY
TO RITTER ARENA TO SOLVE THE
PUZZLE. BEATTY: SINCE 2010, THE
RIT WOMEN'S HOCKEY TEAM HAS
RAISED OVER $74,000 FOR
ROCHESTER AREA CHARITIES. THIS
YEAR THE LADY TIGERS WILL TEAM
WITH AUTISM UP IN THEIR ANNUAL
SKATE FOR A CURE EVENT. HOW DID
YOU FIRST BECOME INVOLVED WITH
THE AUTISM UP FOUNDATION? NEW
SPEAKER: WELL WHEN MY SON WAS
DIAGNOSED, HE WAS ONLY TWO YEARS
OLD AT THE TIME AND I WAS
LOOKING FOR SOME SUPPORT HERE
LOCALLY AND I JUST STUMBLED UPON
THIS ORGANIZATION THAT AT THE
TIME WAS CALLED UPSTATE NEW YORK
FAMILIES FOR EFFECTIVE AUTISM
TREATMENT, WHICH IS A MOUTHFUL.
THE ACRONYM WAS UNIFEAT, AND IT
STARTED OUT WITH GETTING
INVOLVED WITH THEM,
VOLUNTEERING, I'VE ALWAYS LOVED
TO VOLUNTEER, EVEN WHEN I WAS A
COLLEGIATE, SO IT WAS SOMETHING
THAT I WANTED TO DO, GIVING BACK
BUT ALSO LOOKING FOR SUPPORT AND
MAKING FRIENDSHIPS OF OTHER
FAMILIES WHO WERE GOING THROUGH
WHAT I WAS GOING THROUGH.
BEATTY: HOW DID THIS
ORGANIZATION GET INVOLVED WITH
THE RIT WOMEN'S HOCKEY TEAM? NEW
SPEAKER: RIT HAS ALWAYS BEEN A
GREAT FRIEND TO US. ONE OF OUR
BOARD MEMBERS, MARK HIGGINS, HAS
A CLOSE FRIEND THAT WORKS FOR
RIT SPORTS AND CAME TO US AND
SAID THAT THIS WAS SOMETHING
THAT THEY WERE CONSIDERING DOING
FOR US, THAT THEY DO EVERY YEAR,
THE SKATE FOR THE CURE, AND THAT
THEY WERE CONSIDERING HAVING
AUTISM UP BE THEIR CHARITY OF
CHOICE THIS YEAR. NEW SPEAKER:
IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE TALKED
ABOUT RIGHT FROM THE GET GO IS
THAT, HEY, IF YOU WANT FANS IN
THE STANDS THEN YOU'VE GOT TO
GET OUT THERE IN THE COMMUNITY
AND YOU KNOW, SUPPORT THEM AND
THEY'LL SUPPORT YOU AND IT'S
GONE BOTH WAYS AND I COULDN'T BE
MORE ECSTATIC THAT WE HAVE A
SCHOOL THAT LETS US DO THESE
TYPES OF GAMES AND FUNDS THIS
TYPE OF STUFF FOR US TO GIVE OUR
GIRLS AN OPPORTUNITY TO YOU
KNOW, WEAR THOSE SPECIAL SHIRTS.
THESE WILL BE THE MEMORIES THAT
THEY REMEMBER, NOT THE WINS AND
LOSSES, BUT THEY'LL REMEMBER
WEARING THAT TYPE OF SHIRT FOR
THIS TYPE OF CAUSE. BEATTY: WHAT
DOES THIS EVENT MEAN TO YOUR
ORGANIZATION AS A WHOLE? NEW
SPEAKER: LIKE I SAID, RIT'S
ALWAYS BEEN A GREAT FRIEND TO
AUTISM UP AND HAVING THE WOMEN'S
HOCKEY TEAM SUPPORT US AND OUR
ORGANIZATION JUST BY THE JERSEYS
AND SUPPORTING OUR MEMBERS AND
RIT HAVING US HERE ON CAMPUS
TODAY, COMING IN TO ENJOY THE
GAME AND RIT MAKING
ACCOMMODATIONS FOR US BECAUSE
COMING TO A TYPICAL HOCKEY GAME
FOR OUR MEMBERS IS SOMEWHAT
DIFFICULT. NEW SPEAKER: IT'S
AWESOME. I WAS A COLLEGE
GRADUATE FROM HERE TWO TIMES
OVER AND TO BE ABLE TO COME FULL
CIRCLE AND BE BACK ON CAMPUS
AGAIN AND HAVE RIT GIVE BACK TO
THE COMMUNITY IT'S WONDERFUL THE
WAY THAT THE HOCKEY TEAM
SELECTED A CHARITY TO SUPPORT
THAT THEY WANTED TO GIVE BACK
TO. THEY SELECTED AUTISM UP AND
IT'S SIMPLY WONDERFUL FOR ALL OF
THE FAMILIES. BEATTY: DID BEING
PART OF THE AUTISM UP EVENT ADD
ANYTHING TO THE GAME? NEW
SPEAKER: DEFINITELY! BEING PART
OF THE AUTISM UP ADDED A HUGE
PART TO THE GAME. WE KNEW WE HAD
PEOPLE IN THE STANDS THAT WERE
HERE FOR A REASON AND WERE HERE
TO SUPPORT US, SO WE DIDN'T WANT
TO DISAPPOINT THEM. I THINK, TO
HAVE THEM IN THE BACK OF OUR
MINDS, WE'VE ALL BEEN DEALT THIS
GOOD CARD, YOU KNOW OF BEING
ATHLETIC, AND HAVING ALL OF
THESE SUPPORT SYSTEMS AROUND US
THAT YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO BE
ABLE TO SUPPORT THEM TOO AND YOU
KNOW, I THINK THAT EVERY LITTLE
THING THAT WE CAN HELP LIKE JUST
MAKES THEIR LIFE A LITTLE BIT
BETTER AND THAT'S WHAT'S
IMPORTANT. NEW SPEAKER: PARK
SPRING THE RIT"S MEN'S LACROSSE
TEAM REACHED THE DIVISION THREE
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP FOR THE
FIRST TIME IN PROGRAM HISTORY.
CLARK: BUT AFTER COMING UP JUST
SHORT IN THE TITLE GAME, THE
TIGERS RETURN THIS SEASON READY
TO PROVE THEIR STILL
CHAMPIONSHIP CALIBER. SO LET'S
TALK ABOUT LAST SEASON FIRST.
YOU MAKE IT TO THE NATIONAL
CHAMPIONSHIP; UNFORTUNATELY,
FALL SHORT. WHAT WAS THAT
DISAPPOINTMENT LIKE? NEW
SPEAKER: IT WAS NICE TO SEE A
GROUP COME TOGETHER AN D GEL,
YOU KNOW, REALLY FINISH IN SOME
TOUGH GAMES, IT'S TOO BAD IN THE
FINAL GAME WE COULDN'T GET IT
DONE, BUT YOU KNOW, WE PUT A LOT
OF TIME AND EFFORT IN THROUGHOUT
THE SEASON. I THINK MOST
IMPORTANTLY THE GUYS FINALLY GOT
A TASTE OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
AND REALIZED WHAT ALL THE WORK
IS FOR AND HOPEFULLY COMING INTO
THIS NEXT YEAR THEY'RE A BIT
HUNGRY TO GET BACK AND
EXPERIENCE THAT AGAIN. NEW
SPEAKER: I WOULD SAY IT WAS
HEARTBREAKING. WE PUT A LOT OF
WORK INTO LAST SEASON AND TO
MAKE IT THERE WAS A HUGE STEP
FOR US AND THE PROGRAM AND THEN
COMING INTO THESE CONDITIONING
WEEKS WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE
OF AN EDGE IN TERMS OF PUSHING
OURSELVES AND WHAT NOT BECAUSE
WE KNOW WE CAN GET THERE AND THE
NEXT STEP WOULD BE WINNING IT
AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO
DO THIS YEAR. CLARK: CAN YOU
TELL ME WHAT YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN
DOING YOUR FIRST WEEK BACK? NEW
SPEAKER: SO WE'VE BEEN DOING TWO
A DAYS, SO WE'LL GET UP IN THE
MORNING AND WE'LL HAVE A
PRACTICE IN THE MORNING FOR TWO
HOURS AND WE'LL HAVE A BIT OF A
BREAK, GRAB SOME LUNCH, AND THEN
WE'LL COME BACK AND HAVE ANOTHER
PRACTICE IN THE AFTERNOON. EVERY
ODD DAY WE DO YOGA AND THEN WE
DO A LITTLE BIT OF A WORKOUT.
THE YOGA'S NEW FOR US SO IT'S
BEEN A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT AND
CHALLENGING BUT IT'S DIFFERENT
SO IT'S GOOD; IT KEEPS US FRESH.
NEW SPEAKER: WE'VE GOT TO ROTATE
INTO THE BALL. YOU GUYS
RECOVERING, YOU'RE GOING TO PEEL
OFF TO THE CREASE. COME ON,
SPRINT AND FINISH! SPRINT AND
FINISH. NO, WE'RE SLIDING HERE,
GUYS. WE'RE SLIDING ORANGE. WE
NEED THIS TIME. WE NEED TO GET
IN WHEREVER WE ARE AND GO
THROUGH THE X'S AND O'S PIECE
AND STILL GET OUR CONDITIONING
IN. STILL GIVE GUYS TIME TO GEL
AND GIVE THE COACHES TIME TO
FIGURE OUT WHAT PERSONNEL WORKS
BEST TOGETHER AND YOU KNOW, SO
THE TWO A DAYS WERE KIND OF A
MUST THIS WEEK. YOU KNOW, IF WE
DIDN'T HAVE THEM WE'D BE A WEEK
OR TWO BEHIND. STEPHENSON
STARTED I THINK TWO WEEKS AGO,
SO YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT TO PLAY A
LITTLE BIT OF CATCH UP HERE. SO
ONE PARTNER'S GOING TO START
WITH IT. THE FIRST GUY'S GOING
TO DO TEN, ALL RIGHT? CLARK:
HOW'S YOUR BODY FEELING? I KNOW
YOU GUYS HAVE ONLY BEEN AT IT
FOR FOUR DAYS; HOW ARE YOU
FEELING? NEW SPEAKER: YEAH, IT'S
ONLY BEEN FOUR DAYS BUT WE'RE
ALL HURTING AND SORE BECAUSE
IT'S FOUR HOURS OF PRACTICE A
DAY, WHICH IS A LOT MORE THAN
ANY OF US ARE USED TO. CLARK:
BUT YOU THINK IT'S GOING TO BE
WORTH IT. NEW SPEAKER: IT'S
DEFINITELY GOING TO BE WORTH IT.
CLARK: NOW THE TEAM IS FACING
STEPHENSON FOR THE FIRST GAME OF
THE SEASON. DO YOU THINK THIS IS
AN IDEAL REMATCH OR WOULD YOU
RATHER PLAY SOMEBODY ELSE FIRST
FOR THE FIRST GAME? NEW SPEAKER:
I DEFINITELY THINK IT'S AN IDEAL
SITUATION. WE STARTED WITH THEM
FIRST LAST YEAR AND THEN WE
ENDED WITH THEM, UNFORTUNATELY,
BUT THEY ARE THE BEST TEAM RIGHT
NOW, RANKED NUMBER ONE, SO TO BE
ABLE TO PROVE OURSELVES IN THE
FIRST GAME OF THE YEAR COULD BE
HUGE AND EVEN IF WE WERE TO FALL
SHORT, WHICH WE HOPEFULLY WON'T,
WE'LL KNOW WHAT TO STRIVE FOR.
NEW SPEAKER: I THINK IT'S A
GREAT SITUATION. PROBABLY
COULDN'T ASK FOR MUCH BETTER.
WE'VE TRIED TO PLAY A TOUGH
OPPONENT COMING OUT OF THE GATE
FROM THE GET GO, WE PLAYED
STEPHENSON IN MY FIRST EVER
COLLEGIATE CONTEST WHERE THEY
REALLY KICKED OUR BUTTS, BUT WE
KIND OF WANTED TO SET THE BAR
HIGH. AGAIN GUYS! IT'S GREAT
PICKING THE BALL UP, BUT WE'VE
GOT TO FINISH THE PLAY OFF. AND
I SEE THIS GAME AS A POSITIVE
OVERALL. IT KIND OF GETS THE
PAST OUT OF OUR SYSTEM AND THEN
WE CAN JUST WORRY ABOUT THE REST
OF THE SEASON, WIN OR LOSE. IT'S
GOING TO BE A GREAT CONTEST.
THEY RETURN A LOT AND OBVIOUSLY
WE DO TOO SO I THINK IT'S GOING
TO BE A FUN DAY. NEW SPEAKER: I
THINK IT'S GREAT THAT WE'RE
PLAYING STEPHENSON. I THINK IT
WILL GIVE US A GOOD OPPORTUNITY
TO SHOW OUR SKILL SET COMING
INTO THE SEASON. WE KNOW THEY'RE
THE BEST; THEY WON IT LAST YEAR,
THEY'RE RATED NUMBER ONE THIS
YEAR SO I THINK IT WILL BE A
GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW
OURSELVES WHERE WE STACK UP
AGAINST THE BEST IN THE COUNTRY.
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