RIT SportsZone: Season 10 - Episode 11

DITULLIO: HELLO EVERYONE AND
WELCOME TO SZ REWIND, A LOOK
BACK AT THE TEN SEASONS OF RIT
SPORTSZONE. HILL: TODAY WE'LL
HIGHLIGHT THE MAJOR MOMENTS AND
TREMENDOUS ACHIEVEMENTS
ACCOMPLISHED BY OUR RIT TIGERS.
DITULLIO: THAT'S RIGHT SHELBY.
ONE OF THE MOST INSPIRING
STORIES OF THE YEAR COMES FROM
RIT ALUM MATT HAMILL, WHO WAS
THE FIRST DEAF WRESTLER TO WIN A
NATIONAL COLLEGIATE CHAMPIONSHIP
AND THE FIRST DEAF PERSON TO
PARTICIPATE IN MIXED MARTIAL
ARTS. HILL: THROUGH THE YEARS,
HAMILL'S BEEN AN INSPIRATION TO
MANY BY OVERCOMING ADVERSITY TO
MAKE HIS DREAMS COME TRUE. IN
OCTOBER, AFTER YEARS OF
PRODUCTION, HIS LIFE STORY
FILLED WITH MANY UPS AND DOWNS
FINALLY HIT THE BIG SCREEN. NEW
SPEAKER: OK, WE'RE ROLLING, AND
ACTION! HILL: IT'S BEEN OVER TWO
YEARS SINCE THE BRIGHT LIGHTS OF
HOLLYWOOD CAME TO RIT TO FEATURE
ONE OF OUR OWN. NEW SPEAKER: HE
WAS ALWAYS THE CENTER OF
ATTENTION WHEREVER WE WENT,
WHEREVER WE TRAVELED, YOU KNOW,
PEOPLE, YOU COULD ALWAYS HEAR
THEM WHISPER UNDER THEIR BREATH,
"OH, THAT'S MATT HAMILL! I'VE
GOT TO WATCH HIM WRESTLE!" HILL:
MATT HAMILL, A FORMER RIT NTID
STUDENT AND THREE TIME DIVISION
THREE WRESTLING CHAMPION FIRST
CAUGHT HOLLYWOOD PRODUCER'S
ATTENTION WHEN HE BECAME A
CONTESTANT ON THE ULTIMATE
FIGHTER REALITY SHOW. NEW
SPEAKER: MY WRITING PARTNER,
EBAN CASPAR, SAW IT ON THE UFC
REALITY SHOW A FEW YEARS BACK,
AND THOUGHT MATT WAS AN
INSPIRING GUY HIMSELF AND WE
LOOKED INTO IT, WE TRACKED HIM
DOWN, MET HIM, INTERVIEWED HIM,
THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA
FOR A SCRIPT AND WROTE THE
SCRIPT. I THINK THE WRITING
PROCESS WAS DIFFICULT IN THE
BEGINNING BECAUSE TO TRY TO
EXPLAIN TO SOMEONE, WE'RE GOING
TO WRITE YOUR LIFE STORY BUT
WE'RE GOING TO JUST FIT IT INTO
A THREE ACT STRUCTURE AND IN AN
HOUR AND A HALF FILM. NEW
SPEAKER: WE'RE GOING TO COMBINE
YOUR DAD AND YOUR GRANDFATHER
INTO ONE CHARACTER. HILL: NOT
ONLY IS HIS STORY UNIQUE, THE
FINAL RESULT IS THE FIRST OF ITS
KIND. NEW SPEAKER: ONE OF THE
REALLY COOL THINGS I THINK THAT
WE'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT THIS
PROJECT FROM THE BEGINNING IS
THAT IT'S GOING TO BE TOTALLY
SUBTITLED SO THE HEARING PEOPLE
WILL BE ABLE TO HEAR THE
ENGLISH, BUT THEY'LL HAVE TO
READ THE SUBTITLES FOR THE ASL
AND VICE VERSA FOR THE DEAF
PEOPLE. NEW SPEAKER: I TOLD YOU
YOUR WHOLE LIFE YOU DON'T NEED
TO BE TREATED DIFFERENT! NEW
SPEAKER: BUT I AM DIFFERENT! NEW
SPEAKER: THERE AREN'T A LOT OF
MOVIES THAT YOU CAN GO TO THE
THEATER AND WATCH HEARING AND
DEAF TOGETHER UNLESS THEY'RE
FOREIGN FILMS BECAUSE THE DEAF
PEOPLE NEED THE SUBTITLES, SO
IT'S KIND OF THIS ONE OF A KIND
MOVIE WHERE DEAF PEOPLE AND
HEARING PEOPLE CAN WATCH IT
TOGETHER IN THE THEATER. HILL:
AFTER YEARS OF PRODUCTION, THE
MOVIE TITLED "THE HAMMER", AFTER
HAMILL HIMSELF, HAS ALREADY WON
EIGHT FILM FESTIVAL AWARDS AND
HAS FINALLY HIT THE BIG SCREEN
IN OVER A HUNDRED THEATERS
NATIONWIDE. NEW SPEAKER: LET ME
TELL YOU THAT YOU HAVE A HIGHLY
INTELLIGENT GRANDSON WHO'S
PROFOUNDLY DEAF. NEW SPEAKER:
ALREADY WE'VE GONE EIGHT FOR
EIGHT IN FILM FESTIVALS, WHICH
IS AWESOME. I THINK IT WAS AFI
IN CALIFORNIA, MAUI, CLEVELAND.
WE JUST WANT IT TO HIT THE RIGHT
AUDIENCES AND KIND OF BRIDGE THE
GAP AND HAVE IT BE A "THE
BLINDSIDE" MEETS "ROCKY" MEETS
"RUDY" TYPE OF FILM. NEW
SPEAKER: WE KNEW THE FILM WAS
SPECIAL FROM THE BEGINNING. AND
EVERYBODY'S BEEN INVOLVED WITH
IT, ESPECIALLY I MYSELF WAS VERY
LATE IN THE PROCESS, BUT IT'S
BEEN PHENOMENAL TO SEE THAT
EVERYBODY ELSE IS COMING OUT AND
SUPPORTING IT AND THE VAST
MAJORITY OF THOSE AWARDS CAME
NOT FROM CRITICS, BUT THEY CAME
FROM THE AUDIENCE MEMBERS
THEMSELVES WHO LOVED THE FILM
AND JUST WANT TO SEE IT SUCCEED.
(CHEERING) HILL: WHAT'S IT LIKE
FOR YOU, THIS FEELING THAT YOU
HAVE NOW THAT YOUR LIFE IS MADE
INTO A MOVIE? HAMILL: WELL,
YEAH, IT'S SOMETHING THAT, UHM,
IT'S SO WEIRD, IT'S REALLY
WEIRD, BECAUSE IT WAS A STRANGE
THING TO ME. I THINK IT'S BEST
TO (INAUDIBLE). I MEAN, LET'S GO
BACK A LITTLE BIT. THIS MOVIE,
"THE HAMMER", IT TOOK US SIX
YEARS FOR THIS PROJECT. I
THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, IT WON'T BE
REALLY SPECIAL OR ELSE I THOUGHT
IT WOULD BE REAL SHORT
(INAUDIBLE).I REALIZED THAT THE
MOVIE PRODUCERS DID NOT GIVE UP,
BUT OVERALL, YOU KNOW, WOW! IT'S
VERY SPECIAL. IT'S A SPECIAL
MOMENT YOU KNOW, TO HAVE
SOMETHING YOU KNOW, ABOUT MY
LIFE SHOWN ROUND THE WORLD. IT'S
REALLY AMAZING. HILL: HAMILL'S
STORY WILL CERTAINLY SERVE AS AN
INSPIRATION TO BOTH THE DEAF AND
HEARING COMMUNITY. NEW SPEAKER:
YOU KNOW I HOPE THAT THEY JUST
ENJOY THE FILM AND FEEL GOOD
ABOUT IT. OBVIOUSLY THE MESSAGE
IS ABOUT OVERCOMING STRUGGLES AT
ANY POINT IN YOUR LIFE. I
HAVEN'T SEEN THE FILM UNTIL
TONIGHT, BUT THE PARTS I'VE SEEN
ARE REALLY UPLIFTING AND YOU
KNOW, IT'S A GREAT MESSAGE AND I
THINK IT COMES AT A PRETTY COOL
TIME. HILL: YOU'RE A
MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER, YOU'RE A
UFC FIGHTER, YOU CAN SPEAK SIX
LANGUAGES, LIKE FOR YOU, WHAT IS
YOUR BIGGEST ACCOMPLISHMENT?
HAMILL: WELL, I'M STILL NOT
SATISFIED; I'M STILL NOT
SATISFIED. IF EVERYBODY COULD
SEE MY EYES, YOU'D KNOW I'M JUST
NOT REALLY HAPPY, BUT I STILL
HAVE MORE TO PROVE TO A LOT OF
THE WORLD. I STILL HAVE
SOMETHING TO PROVE. NEW SPEAKER:
SPEAKER: YOU'RE WATCHING RIT
SPORTSZONE, COLLEGE TELEVISION
AWARD WINNER FOR BEST NEWSCAST
IN THE NATION. DITULLIO: WELCOME
BACK TO SZ REWIND, A LOOK BACK
ON SEASON 10 OF RIT SPORTSZONE.
HILL: LAST SEASON RIT KICKED OFF
ITS CAMPAIGN TO BUILD A NEW HOME
FOR HOCKEY WHEN ALUMNUS STEVE
SCHULTZ DONATED ONE MILLION
DOLLARS TO THE SCHOOL. DITULLIO:
THIS PAST NOVEMBER THE TIGER
POWER PLAY SCORED ITS MOST
SIGNIFICANT DONATION YET AND
RIT'S FUTURE HOME WAS NAMED.
HILL: CONSTRUCTION ON THE FUTURE
HOME OF RIT HOCKEY HASN'T EVEN
BEGUN, BUT THE NEW FACILITY
ALREADY HAS A NAME, THANKS TO A
4.5 MILLION DOLLAR PARTNERSHIP
WITH THE POLISSENI FOUNDATION
AND TOM GOLISANO, THE HOCKEY
PROGRAM WILL SOON CALL THE GENE
POLISSENI CENTER THEIR NEW HOME.
DESTLER: THIS IS AN AMAZING
STORY AND WE JUST COULDN'T HAVE
A BETTER NAME FOR THIS ARENA.
YOU KNOW, GENE POLISSENI AND TOM
GOLISANO WERE CHILDHOOD FRIENDS.
WHEN TOM GOLISANO DECIDED THAT
HE WAS GOING TO TRY AND START A
COMPANY, WHICH EVENTUALLY BECAME
PAYCHEX,


TOGETHER THEY BUILT THE COMPANY
INTO WHAT IT IS TODAY. IT'S A
TREMENDOUS STORY OF PERSONAL
FRIENDSHIP, HARD WORK,
PERSEVERANCE AND I THINK RIT OF
COURSE IS THE BENEFICIARY OF
THAT EXTRAORDINARY RELATIONSHIP,
AND WHAT A BETTER WAY TO HONOR
GENE POLISSENI'S MEMORY THAN TO
HAVE HIS NAME ON THIS
MAGNIFICENT NEW FACILITY. HILL:
NOW WHAT DOES THIS DONATION SAY
TO THE POLISSENIS AND TOM
GOLISANO'S COMMITMENT TO THE
COMMUNITY? WILSON: WELL, I
THINK, AND MAYBE NOT AS
PUBLICIZED ALL THE TIME THE
MONEY THAT THEY CERTAINLY HELP
OUT MANY, MANY CAUSES THROUGHOUT
OUR COMMUNITY. THE COMMUNITY IS
VERY IMPORTANT TO THEM. THESE
ARE PEOPLE THAT YOU KNOW,
ROCHESTER'S VERY SPECIAL TO THEM
AND REALLY HELP ROCHESTER
THRIVE. WE REALLY, REALLY
APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT
THEY'VE DONE. HILL: HOW
GRATIFYING IS THIS TO YOU AND
THE CAMPAIGN? DESTLER: YOU KNOW,
IT COULDN'T BE BETTER! IT'S
EXACTLY THE BIG GIFT WE NEEDED
TO GET THIS CAMPAIGN GOING. I
THINK WE'RE OVER HALFWAY THERE
NOW. I THINK THIS WILL BUILD
EXCITEMENT TOWARD THE CAMPAIGN
AND HOPEFULLY IF WE RAISE A
COUPLE MILLION DOLLARS MORE,
THIS SPRING WILL GET AN
ARCHITECT AND MAYBE IF WE GET A
COUPLE MILLION AFTER THAT WE'LL
START CONSTRUCTION IN THE FALL.
HILL: SO HOW MUCH HAVE YOU
RAISED SO FAR? DESTLER: A LITTLE
OVER EIGHT MILLION DOLLARS AND
WE'RE VERY ENCOURAGED BY WHAT WE
HEAR FROM THE COMMUNITY. WE HAVE
SOME OTHER LARGE ASKS OUT. IT'S
NO QUESTION, WE'RE REALLY GOING
TO BUILD THIS THING, THE ONLY
REAL QUESTION IS WHEN. HILL: NOW
DO YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING TO
START BUILDING BEFORE YOU GET
THE 15 MILLION OR WAIT UNTIL
THEN? NEW SPEAKER: WELL NOW THAT
WE HAVE A NAME FOR THE CENTER,
IT MAKES IT EASIER FOR US TO
START LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING
AN ARCHITECT AND THINKING ABOUT
THE PLACEMENT AND MAKING SOME
MORE FIRM PLANS TO MAKE THIS
HAPPEN. IT'S EXCITING! HILL:
WHAT DOES THIS DO TO THE
MOMENTUM OF THE CAMPAIGN? NEW
SPEAKER: IT'S A BIG SURGE, LET'S
PUT IT THAT WAY. YOU KNOW, WHEN
YOU GET A 4.5 MILLION DOLLAR
GIFT IT SENDS A MESSAGE OUT TO
FOLKS THAT WE'RE SERIOUS, WE'VE
GOT SOME PEOPLE BEHIND US WHO
ARE SERIOUS ABOUT IT AND I THINK
IT'S GOING TO DEVELOP KIND OF A
SNOWBALL, A LITTLE DOMINO
EFFECT, WE'LL GET MORE GIFTS,
BIGGER GIFTS, HOPEFULLY. WE'LL
GET TO THAT 15 MILLION DOLLAR
POINT SOONER THAN WE THINK.
HILL: ARE YOU TALKING TO SOME
OTHER MAJOR COMPANIES AND IS
THERE ANOTHER MAJOR DONATION IN
THE WORKS? DESTLER: WE HAVE
SEVERAL THINGS IN THE WORKS,
THEY'RE NOT NEARLY AS BIG AS
THIS, BUT WE HAVE QUITE A FEW
THINGS IN THE WORKS AND YOU
KNOW, THEY ALL ADD UP AND WE'RE
GOING TO GET THERE AND I
COULDN'T BE MORE THRILLED, NOT
ONLY WITH THIS WONDERFUL DAY AND
THIS WONDERFUL ANNOUNCEMENT, BUT
THE TEAM'S PLAYING WELL TONIGHT,
SO WHAT'S NOT TO LIKE? HILL: IS
IT KIND OF HITTING YOU THAT A
NEW RINK IS GOING TO COME TO
CAMPUS? WILSON: YEAH, IT IS, I
MEAN WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT
FOR A WHILE AND VERY HOPEFUL AND
WE'VE HAD SOME VERY GENEROUS
GIFTS ALREADY AND THE THING THAT
I GUESS I APPRECIATE MORE THAN
ANYTHING ELSE OR I THINK
ESPECIALLY ABOUT THIS IS THAT
IT'S COMING FROM PEOPLE WITH
SINCERE INTEREST IN HOCKEY, AND
I THINK IT MAKES IT THAT MUCH
MORE MEANINGFUL. THE NAME GENE
POLISSENI WILL LIVE ON FOR A
LONG, LONG TIME AND IT WILL BE A
VERY SPECIAL BUILDING IN OUR
COMMUNITY. NEW SPEAKER: WHEN YOU
SEE THE PRESIDENT STANDING OUT
THERE SAYING THAT THIS THING IS
GOING TO BECOME A REALITY, AND I
KIND OF WATCHED, I LOOKED UP IN
THE STANDS AND I JUST SAW THE
EXCITEMENT IN THEIR EYES AND
THEIR VOICES. WHAT WE HAVE HERE
IS A PRETTY DARN SPECIAL THING.
NOW WE HAVE THE GENE POLISSENI
CENTER; WE'LL HAVE PEOPLE WHO
KNEW ABOUT GENE, HIS WORK, HIS
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE COMMUNITY.
I DON'T KNOW HOW THIS CAN'T
SUCCEED NOW. DITULLIO: RIT HAS
SELECTED BBB ARCHITECTS OF
TORONTO TO MANAGE AND DESIGN THE
GENE POLISSENI CENTER. NOW
CONSTRUCTION IS EXPECTED TO COST
BETWEEN 30 AND 35 MILLION
DOLLARS AND THE SCHOOL HOPES TO
BREAK GROUND IN THE FALL. HILL:
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HOW YOU
CAN JOIN THE EFFORT TO HELP
BUILD THE GENE POLISSENI CENTER,
VISIT RIT.EDU/POWERPLAY.
DITULLIO: TILL TO COME ON
SPORTSZONE: THE WOMEN'S RIT
HOCKEY TEAM REACHES THE PINNACLE
OF DIVISION THREE HOCKEY AND
THEN ANNOUNCES A MAJOR MOVE.
THAT'S ALL AHEAD. YOU'RE
WATCHING SZ REWIND IN HIGH
DEFINITION. NEW SPEAKER: SOMEDAY
TO SPORTSZONE. IT WAS THE
GREATEST OFFENSIVE SEASON BY AN
INDIVIDUAL IN THE SIXTEEN YEAR
HISTORY OF THE RIT WOMEN'SYEAR
LACROSSE PROGRAM. FAIRPORT'S
SHELBY VAKIENER SET SCHOOL
RECORDS WITH 78 GOALS, 37
ASSISTS AND 115 POINTS DURING
HER JUNIOR SEASON EARNING
LIBERTY LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE
YEAR. DITULLIO: ON THE MEN'S
SIDE, SENIOR TYLER RUSSELL WAS
NAMED THE LIBERTY LEAGUE'S
PLAYER OF THE YEAR. RUSSELL LED
THE TIGERS WITH 53 GOALS THIS
SEASON. NOW HE ALSO PLAYED A
HUGE PART IN HELPING RIT REACH
THE LIBERTY LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP
GAME AGAINST UNION. RUSSELL
SCORED THREE GOALS ON THE DAY
AND RIT WENT ON TO WIN EIGHT TO
SIX TO CAPTURE THEIR FIRST
LIBERTY LEAGUE TITLE. (CHEERING)
NEW SPEAKER: SO WHAT WAS THE
MINDSET GOING INTO TODAY'S GAME?
COON: I GUESS THE SAME AS ANY
OTHER GAME. THE GUYS NEEDED TO
BE FOCUSED TODAY AND UNDERSTAND
THE GAME PLAN AND STICK TO IT
AND BE DISCIPLINED AND I THOUGHT
WE DID A GOOD JOB OF THAT. WE
HUSTLED, WE CAME UP WITH GROUND
BALLS AND TO BE HONEST, THAT'S
BEEN THE KEY TO MOST OF OUR
GAMES. NEW SPEAKER: OUR MINDSET
WAS BASICALLY COME OUT OF THE
GATES QUICK AND YOU KNOW, TAKE
IT FROM THERE AND HOPEFULLY OUR
MOMENTUM WOULD CARRY US TO THE
END. NEW SPEAKER: WE KNEW IT WAS
GOING TO BE A REALLY TOUGH ONE,
WE JUST KNEW IF WE PLAYED OUR
GAME, RIT LACROSSE, THAT WE
WOULD WIN THIS ONE AND WE WERE
FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO PULL IT OUT
IN THE END. NEW SPEAKER: IT WAS
A CLOSE GAME LAST TIME, WE KNOW
THEY'RE REALLY DEFENSIVE
ORIENTED AND WE KNEW IT WAS
GOING TO BE A LOW SCORING GAME,
THE FINAL EIGHT TO SIX, THE LAST
GAME WAS TEN TO FOUR, SO WE
DIDN'T EXPECT TO COME OUT HERE
AND PUT UP HUGE NUMBERS SO WE
JUST HAD TO BURY OUR SHOTS AND
TAKE CARE OF THE BALL. NEW
SPEAKER: YOU KNOW THEY PLAYED
ST. LAWRENCE TO A REALLY GOOD
GAME THE OTHER DAY; THEY CAME
BACK AND THEY GAVE US A RUN FOR
OUR MONEY TOO SO WE KNEW IT WAS
GOING TO BE A TOUGH ONE BUT WE
KNEW IF WE WORKED HARD AGAIN
THAT WE WOULD WIN. NEW SPEAKER:
AND AS YOUR FIRST YEAR IN THE
LEAGUE DID YOU EVER EXPECT TO
MAKE IT THIS FAR? COON: IT WAS
CERTAINLY ONE OF OUR GOALS,
YEAH, I MEAN IT CERTAINLY WAS
ONE OF OUR GOALS. WE WANTED TO
MAKE OUR MARK THE FIRST YEAR
HERE AND IT'S A GREAT LEAGUE,
WE'RE HAPPY TO COME INTO THE
LEAGUE AND GET OUR FIRST
CHAMPIONSHIP AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL
HAVE MANY MORE TO COME. NEW
SPEAKER: THIS IS JUST ONE OF OUR
GOALS. OBVIOUSLY THE ULTIMATE
GOAL IS THE NATIONAL
CHAMPIONSHIP AND THAT STARTS
PROBABLY TOMORROW, TO BE HONEST,
SO YOU KNOW, THAT'S OUR NEXT
STEP. KEEP PLAYING ONE GAME AT A
TIME AND HOPEFULLY GET ANOTHER
HOME GAME AND TAKE IT FROM
THERE. DITULLIO: THE TIGERS MADE
THEIR THIRD STRAIGHT APPEARANCE
IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT. RIT
DEFEATED NEW ENGLAND AND WESTERN
NEW ENGLAND BEFORE LOSING TO
TUFTS IN THE NCAA QUARTERS. NEW
SPEAKER: YOU'RE WATCHING RIT
SPORTSZONE, COLLEGE TELEVISION
AWARD WINNER FOR BEST NEWSCAST
IN THE NATION. DITULLIO: WELCOME
BACK TO SZ REWIND AS WE LOOK
BACK ON THE TENTH SEASON OF RIT
SPORTSZONE. NOW FOR THE THIRD
STRAIGHT YEAR THE RIT MEN'S
HOCKEY TEAM REACHED THE AHA
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME, BUT FOR THE
SECOND STRAIGHT YEAR THE TIGERS
WERE SHUT OUT BUY AIR FORCE
GOALTENDER JASON TORF. THE
FALCON'S NETMINDER STOPPED ALL
33 SHOTS HE FACED AS AIR FORCE
CAPTURED ITS SECOND STRAIGHT AHA
CHAMPIONSHIP FOUR NOTHING OVER
THE TIGERS. WILSON: WE REALLY
NEEDED TO SCORE GOALS AND WE
DIDN'T GET IT AND YOU KNOW, I
DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT,
WHY, BUT TONIGHT I JUST THOUGHT
IT WAS, WE WEREN'T ENERGIZED
ENOUGH TO GET THE SECOND SHOTS
OR THE THIRD SHOTS OR GET TO THE
NET A LITTLE BIT MORE QUICKLY OR
BEAT GUYS OFF THE BOARDS. THEY
BEAT US, IS THE BOTTOM LINE.
DITULLIO: RIT OPENS THE 2012,
2013 SEASON ON THE ROAD AT
MICHIGAN ON OCTOBER ELEVENTH AND
THE TWELFTH BEFORE RETURNING TO
ROCHESTER FOR BRICK CITY
SHOWDOWN AGAINST PENN STATE ON
OCTOBER TWENTIETH. HILL: WHILE
THE MEN'S TEAM HAD ANOTHER GOOD
SEASON, THE WOMEN'S HOCKEY TEAM
STOLE THE HEADLINES. FOR THE
SECOND STRAIGHT YEAR, RIT
REACHED THE DIVISION THREE
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME, AND
IT WAS A REMATCH BETWEEN THE
TIGERS AND NORWICH UNIVERSITY,
BUT THIS TIME AROUND, RIT WOULD
NOT BE DENIED. KOURTNEY
KUNICHIKA HAD ONE GOAL AND THREE
ASSISTS AS RIT CAPTURED ITS
FIRST WOMEN'S HOCKEY NATIONAL
CHAMPIONSHIP, WITH A FOUR TO ONE
VICTORY OVER THE CADETS. AFTER
WINNING A DIVISION THREE RECORD
28 GAMES EN ROUTE TO THE TITLE,
THE TIGERS ANNOUNCED THEY'RE
MOVING ON UP NEXT FALL. KRISTIN
KLOCK HAS THE STORY. KLOCK:
AFTER YEARS OF DOMINATING
DIVISION THREE AND JUST DAYS
AFTER WINNING A NATIONAL
CHAMPIONSHIP, RIT ANNOUNCED IT
WILL ELEVATE ITS WOMEN'S HOCKEY
PROGRAM TO DIVISION ONE NEXT
FALL. WHAT IS THE WOMEN'S
TRANSITION TO DIVISION ONE
HOCKEY MEAN FOR RIT AND THE
PROGRAM? NEW SPEAKER: IT'S VERY
BIG. A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK THIS
IS STRICTLY ABOUT WOMEN'S ICE
HOCKEY; IT'S NOT. WHAT THIS DOES
IS IT PAIRS THE WOMEN'S HOCKEY
PROGRAM WITH THE MEN'S AND I
THINK AS A RESULT OF THAT THE
FUTURE IS UNLIMITED. KLOCK: WHEN
YOU JOINED THE STAFF COULD YOU
HAVE ENVISIONED ALL OF THIS
HAPPENING? NEW SPEAKER: NO, THIS
IS MY NINTH YEAR AT RIT AND WHEN
I STARTED I WAS AT MEN'S
DIVISION THREE AND THEN WE WENT
TO MEN'S DIVISION ONE, WOMEN'S
DIVISION THREE AND NOW WOMEN'S
DIVISION ONE, SO I DON'T KNOW
TOO MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN IN
ALL FOUR LEAGUES AND I DON'T
KNOW ANYBODY WHO'S DONE IT AT
ONE SCHOOL, SO IT'S A PRETTY
SPECIAL TIME IN MY CAREER AT RIT
TO HAVE A CHANCE TO GO TO ALL
FOUR DIVISIONS. I'M RUNNING ON
JUST ADRENALIN RIGHT NOW AND I
THINK I NEED A NAP JUST TO HAVE
IT SINK IN, BUT FROM THE
WEEKEND, FROM YESTERDAY THE
PHONE DIDN'T STOP GOING AND THEN
TODAY AND WITH THE NEWS, I'M
ASSUMING A FULL SCHEDULE ALREADY
IS JUST MIND BLOWING. KLOCK: THE
TIGERS WILL JOIN COLLEGE HOCKEY
AMERICA AND THEY WILL BE
ELIGIBLE TO COMPETE IN THE CHA
PLAYOFFS RIGHT AWAY. HOW
EXCITING IS IT THAT THE TEAM
WILL BE ABLE TO PLAY IN THE
PLAYOFFS? MCDONALD: I JUST FOUND
THAT OUT TODAY SO THAT'S A
COMPLETE SHOCK. WE WERE KIND OF
TALKING ABOUT IT BEFORE THE
CHAMPIONSHIP THAT THIS IS OUR
LAST CHANCE FOR THE SENIORS, THE
JUNIORS AND POSSIBLY THE
SOPHOMORES FOR A PLAYOFF RUN, SO
TO FIND OUT NOW WE'RE ELIGIBLE
OUR FIRST YEAR IS JUST A HUGE
BONUS FOR OUR TEAM AND IT'S
CERTAINLY AN EXTRA MOTIVATION
NOW. NEW SPEAKER: I THINK WE ALL
KNEW THAT WE WERE GOING DIVISION
ONE, BUT JUST TO BE ABLE TO PLAY
PLAYOFFS IS AMAZING, ESPECIALLY
AS A FRESHMAN, GOING TO BE ABLE
TO HAVE THREE YEARS AS A
DIVISION ONE PLAYER. IT'S
UNBELIEVABLE. NEW SPEAKER: I'M
BEYOND EXCITED. WITH THAT
ANNOUNCEMENT WE WEREN'T REALLY
EXPECTING THE PLAYOFFS TOO SO
THAT JUST PUT THE CHERRY ON TOP
OF IT. IT'S REALLY, REALLY
EXCITING. KLOCK: YOU SAID
EARLIER THAT RIT WAS THE PERFECT
FIT FOR THIS LEAGUE; WHY DO YOU
THINK THEY ARE? NEW SPEAKER:
AGAIN, THE HISTORY AND THE
SUCCESS OF THE PROGRAM, YOU
KNOW, IT HAS A FACILITY ON
CAMPUS, IT HAS EVERYTHING THAT
YOU NEED TO GROW A PROGRAM AT
THE DIVISION ONE LEVEL. THERE IS
A COMMITMENT BY THE
ADMINISTRATION, THERE'S A
COMMITMENT BY THE SCHOOL,
THERE'S A COMMITMENT BY THE
DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS, THERE'S A
COMMITMENT BY THE PRESIDENT TO
SUPPORT THE MOVE TO DIVISION
ONE, THAT'S HUGE, AND WHEN YOU
HAVE THAT, THAT CAN ONLY BRING
ONE THING TO BOTH THE LEAGUE AND
THE PROGRAM AND THAT'S SUCCESS.
KLOCK: NEXT SEASON THE TIGERS
WILL BE PLAYING SOME OF THE BEST
TEAMS IN THE COUNTRY AT HOCKEY'S
HIGHEST LEVEL. HOW DO YOU THINK
THE TEAM WILL DO IN DIVISION
ONE? NEW SPEAKER: I THINK THE
FIRST FEW YEARS MIGHT BE A BIT
ROCKY BUT I DON'T THINK WE'RE
GOING TO SET OURSELVES BACK OR
GIVE OURSELVES THE, 'OH, WE JUST
CAME FROM D3, WE'RE NOT GOING TO
DO AS WELL'. WE'RE DEFINITELY
GOING TO WORK REALLY, REALLY
HARD THIS OFF SEASON AND GET
INTO D1 SHAPE AND BE READY TO
OUTPLAY SOME OF THE TOP PLAYERS
IN THE COUNTRY. NEW SPEAKER: I
THINK WE MIGHT GET FROM SOME OF
THE TEAMS LIKE, 'OH, YEAH, YOU
WON A CHAMPIONSHIP? WELL WE'RE
D1' TRY AND COMPETE AGAINST US.'
BUT I THINK WE'LL DEFINITELY BE
ABLE TO HANDLE THAT WELL. WE DID
JUST WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP AND IT
MIGHT BE D3 BUT THAT'S A PRETTY
BIG ACCOMPLISHMENT AND I THINK,
I MEAN WE HAVE CONFIDENCE TO
CARRY THAT THROUGH NEXT YEAR.
NEW SPEAKER: IT'S DEFINITELY
GOING TO BE THE ELEVATED GAME, I
THINK. I THINK DIVISION ONE THE
SKILL LEVEL'S A LOT HIGHER. I
MEAN, OUR TEAM IS VERY SKILLED
AND WE DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM, BUT
IT WILL BE A BIG ADJUSTMENT.
KLOCK: ALTHOUGH RIT STILL WON'T
GRANT SCHOLARSHIPS, THE
ANNOUNCEMENT CERTAINLY WILL BE A
HUGE BOOST TO RECRUITING. WITH A
DIVISION THREE NATIONAL
CHAMPIONSHIP AND TRANSITIONING
TO D1 AND THEN THEY'RE BUILDING
A NEW ARENA, WHAT DO YOU THINK
THIS IS GOING TO DO FOR
RECRUITMENT? NEW SPEAKER: IT'S
GOING TO DO LEAPS AND BOUNDS.
WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO BRING
IN SUCH BETTER PLAYERS AND BE
ABLE TO HAVE SUCH A BETTER TEAM,
ESPECIALLY AT THIS SCHOOL WITH
THE EDUCATION AS HIGH AS IT IS,
PEOPLE WILL WANT TO BE HERE AND
WANT TO PLAY AT RIT AND IT WILL
JUST HELP TREMENDOUSLY.
MCDONALD: IT'S HUGE FOR
RECRUITING. WITH THE GIRLS
COMING IN, WE CAN SHOW THEM THE
SUPPORT OF THE FANS IN THE ARENA
THAT WE HAVE ALREADY. IT'S A
HUGE RECRUITING TOOL IN ITSELF
AND THEN YOU THROW ON TOP THE
DIVISION ONE NAME NOW,
PIGGYBACKING A NATIONAL
CHAMPIONSHIP AND THEN BUILDING A
NEW ARENA THAT WILL BE STATE OF
THE ART, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT
GOING TO GET, IT WILL BE TOUGH,
BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO BE AS
TOUGH AS IT HAS BEEN IN THE
PAST. (APPLAUSE) KLOCK: RIT WILL
JOIN SYRACUSE, ROBERT MORRIS,
MERCYHURST, PENN STATE AND
LYNDONWOOD UNIVERSITY IN THE CHA
NEXT FALL. THEY'LL START THEIR
SEASON IN RITTER ARENA ON
SEPTEMBER TWENTY EIGHTH WHEN
THEY HOST MERCYHURST. DITULLIO:
WELL ONCE AGAIN HOCKEY WAS THE
TALK OF THE BRICK CITY THANKS TO
A REMARKABLE RUN BY THE LADY
TIGERS, SO WE WRAP UP OUR TENTH
SEASON OF SPORTSZONE WITH A LOOK
BACK AT THE SIGHTS AND SOUNDS
FROM THE CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON
THAT WAS. ANNOUNCER: LADIES AND
GENTLEMEN, HERE ARE YOUR RIT
TIGERS! BATTAGLIA: SHOT AND A
GOAL! JULIE HALL WITH HER FIRST
COLLEGIATE GOAL AND THE TIGERS
GO UP SEVEN TO ONE. NEW SPEAKER:
AS THE RIT WOMEN'S HOCKEY TEAM
FACES OFF AGAINST ECAC WEST
RIVAL BUFFALO STATE, THEY DO SO
SUPPORTING ANOTHER GREAT CAUSE,
HAVING BLACKED OUT RITTER ARENA
LAST YEAR IN A FIGHT AGAINST
HEART DISEASE, THIS YEAR THE
LADY TIGERS WILL BE WEARING
CAMOUFLAGE JERSEYS IN ORDER TO
PAY TRIBUTE TO THE UNITED STATES
ARMED FORCES AND RAISE MONEY FOR
THE WOUNDED WARRIORS PROJECT.
BATTAGLIA: EIGHT SECONDS
REMAINING IN THE PERIOD. ONE
TIMER BY MOSS GOES UP HIGH
BEHIND THE NET, THE CLOSING
SECONDS, TIGERS OUT IN FRONT, IS
IT GOING TO COUNT? YES! COUNT IT
RIGHT AT THE BUZZER! ONE LAST
CHANCE, TWO ONE AND THE RIT
TIGERS ARE THE REGULAR SEASON
CHAMPIONS OF THE ECAC WEST.
MCDONALD: I JUST COULDN'T BE
HAPPIER, JUST TO ERASE THAT LOSS
OF OUR RECORD AND KIND OF START
FRESH WITH THEM AND EARN OUR WAY
INTO A TOURNAMENT. DITULLIO: RIT
HOSTING CONCORDIA MOREHEAD IN
THE NCAA QUARTER FINALS AT
RITTER ARENA. THIRD PERIOD
TIGERS WITH GREAT PUCK MOVEMENT.
KOURTNEY KUNICHIKA FINDS MCCRAE
IN FRONT, HER SECOND ON THE DAY.
MCCRAE SCORED THE HAT TRICK TO
LEAD THE TIGERS TO A FIVE TWO
VICTORY. NEW SPEAKER: IT'S
TEAMWORK. WE JUST, WE DIDN'T
WANT IT TO BE OUR LAST GAME AND
WE JUST WENT OUT THERE AND TRIED
OUR BEST AND IT JUST HAPPENED
THAT WAY AND I'M GLAD IT DID.
DITULLIO: SO IT WAS ON TO THE
NATIONAL SEMIFINALS WHERE SUNY
PLATTSBURGH AWAITED THE TIGERS,
BUT IN OT, ARIANE YOKOYAMA
CENTERS TO LINDSAY GRIGG FOR THE
GAME WINNER. RIT WINS IT TWO ONE
IN OVERTIME AND ADVANCES TO THE
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME.
BATTAGLIA: RIT WILL GO BACK TO
THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
TOMORROW NIGHT! PUCK'S LOOSE,
KUNICHIKA SCORES! GREAT
INDIVIDUAL PLAY BY THE
SOPHOMORE. AND THE ROCHESTER
INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY TIGERS
WILL BE YOUR 2012 NCAA DIVISION
THREE WOMEN'S HOCKEY CHAMPIONS.
MCDONALD: WE TALK ABOUT BEING
INSPIRED, PLAYING INSPIRED AND
THEN INSPIRE EACH OTHER. THEY
ALL DID THAT. NEW SPEAKER: IT'S
AN UNREAL FEELING. I MEAN, I
CAN'T EVEN EXPLAIN THE FEELING
RIGHT NOW. I'M ON LIKE CLOUD
NINE. IT'S RIDICULOUS. DESTLER:
I AM MORE PROUD THAN I CAN SAY.
THEY EARNED THIS CHAMPIONSHIP
THE OLD FASHIONED WAY; THEY JUST
WORKED HARD FOR IT AND IT'S
WONDERFUL TO SEE ALL THAT HARD
WORK GET REWARDED. IT'S A GREAT
DAY FOR RIT, A GREAT DAY FOR THE
TEAM, A GREAT DAY FOR THE
COACHES, JUST A GREAT DAY ALL
AROUND.