ROCHESTER, NY - The RIT women's hockey team plays its inaugural contest at the Gene Polisseni Center on Monday, Sept. 29, an exhibition contest against Pursuit of Excellence, a junior team from British Columbia that gets underway at 7 p.m.

The Tigers return 16 players returning from last season's College Hockey America Championship squad that won their final seven games and finished 20-15-3. In addition, RIT is eligible for the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 2014-15. RIT was picked third in the 2014-15 preseason CHA poll, one point behind Mercyhurst and Robert Morris.

Pursuit of Excellence is in the midst of a 10-day road trip which has them playing seven games against NCAA programs or Canadian universities. Pursuit of Excellence plays Mercyhurst on Saturday, Sept. 27.

The Polisseni Center, which sits on the south side of the Student Alumni Union, boasts 4,000 seats and, with standing room, has a total capacity of 4,300 complete with a student/pep band/Corner Crew section. Other seating options include reserved chair-back seating and a special club section with buffet meals and cash bar. Six corporate suites are available—four on the club level, one on the media level and a unique bunker suite at ice level.

Tickets are $5 for adults, $4 for RIT staff, faculty, and alumni, and $3 for youth. RIT students receive free admission (one ticket limit per valid RIT ID). Tickets are available at the Gene Polisseni Center and Gordon Field House Box Offices, by calling (585) 475-4121 or by visiting www.rithockey.com.

RIT plays its first two regular season games at the Gene Polisseni Center against Union on Oct. 3-4.