By Sal Maiorana
Democrat and Chronicle

(Friday, February 1, 2002) -- This is no time to sulk for the RIT men's hockey team, and coach Wayne Wilson is making sure his troops aren't singing the blues.

The former No. 1-ranked team in Division III received a healthy dose of comeuppance last weekend, losing 4-2 to arch-rival Elmira, just its second loss in 18 games.

In addition, the Tigers' chances of winning another ECAC West conference title and hosting the ECAC postseason tournament were endangered by losing to the Soaring Eagles.

However, all was not lost in the Southern Tier.

Wilson pointed out to his players that they still have five ECAC West games remaining, including the rematch with Elmira at Ritter Arena on Feb. 16.

"We took that loss a little harder because it was our rival game, but we have to move on because we have a lot of season left," Wilson said.

So does Elmira, which also provides hope for the Tigers, now No. 2 in the nation behind Middlebury (Vt.) College.

The eighth-ranked Soaring Eagles (4-0 conference, 12-6 overall) have six conference games left, including a pair against potentially dangerous Manhattanville, plus the showdown with RIT.

Losing to Elmira certainly wounded their pride, but the defeat could actually benefit the Tigers down the road.

"It was sort of a wake-up call," junior center Mike Bournazakis said. "Now we know we have to come back and win the rest of our games if we want to host the ECACs."

The road to recovery begins tonight when RIT (4-1, 16-2) travels to Utica (1-4-1, 8-9-3). It continues Saturday night with a home game against Hobart (2-2, 7-12).

"It's going to be important that we put our foot down and come with our 'A' game Friday night to get back into the groove," said Wilson, who has a record of 64-10 in two-plus years at the helm.

"Sometimes when you don't lose many games, you take the game you lose harder than you should. Sometimes it's harder to put into perspective.

"But if we won the (Elmira) game, this game (against Utica) might be tough to get up for. Now it won't be. I think losing refocuses you a little bit."

The Tigers fell into a 3-0 first-period hole at Elmira, rallied to within 3-2 entering the third period, but couldn't get the equalizer before the Soaring Eagles put the game away with an empty-net goal.

Because they played pretty well, the Tigers' confidence is not shaken.

"We played good, but they got a couple bounces that went their way and we were down a couple goals early," said Bournazakis, who continues to lead all Division III scorers with a 2.29 points-per-game average. "We're still confident."

Similarly strong performances against Utica and Hobart should be more than enough to rack up a pair of victories this weekend.

"These are the ones that would haunt us, losing to these teams, not the loss to Elmira," Wilson said, echoing the warning he gave his team this week in practice.