Robert Morris University Athletics

Henrietta, NY - Robert Morris University men's hockey threw all but the kitchen sink into Saturday's game, but came up short of the victory, falling 5-2 at the Rochester Institute of Technology.

Trailing by two to start the third period, RMU out-shot RIT 15-7 in the final frame, 36-29 overall, out-attempting the Tigers 73-49 in the contest.

RIT cracked onto the scoresheet first on a goal by Matt Abt 3:44 into the game to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead.

Freshman forward Nick Prkusic found the equalizer with his first career goal, a power play tally assisted by Spencer Dorowicz and Daniel Mantenuto. RIT came back four minutes later with an Abbott Girduckis strike to regain the lead.

Trailing 2-1 to start the second, sophomore Luke Lynch drove towards the Tigers goal and ended up in it, along with the puck. After official review of what was ruled no goal on the ice, Lynch was awarded the goal and the game was tied 2-2. Alex Tonge and Alex Robert earned assists on the play.

Just 36 seconds later, RIT once again regained the lead when Erik Brown knocked in a pass from Gabe Valenzuela. With less than three minutes to play in the second, RIT took advantage of its first power play opportunity when Chase Norrish shot the puck through traffic into the net to put the Tigers up 4-2. An empty-net goal by Shawn Cameron closed out the scoring with 2:08 left in the game.

RIT goaltender Logan Drackett stopped 34 of 36 RMU shots, including all 15 he faced in the third period -- six coming during three Colonials power plays.

Senior Andrew Pikul started in goal, stopping 18 of 22 shots before Francis Marotte came in for the third period and stopped the six shots he faced.

RMU was 1-for-5 on the power play, taking ten shots on the man-advantage. The Colonials took just two penalties in the entire contest.

Senior defenseman Alex Bontje led the team's 15 blocks effort with 6 of his own.

"I thought our effort was good. I thought we controlled that game in long stretches," said head coach Derek Schooley. "I think it comes down to momentum again."

"We out-scoring chanced them, we out-shot them, we just didn't out-score them."

With the goal Saturday, Lynch extended his goal-scoring streak to four games with his ninth goal of the season. Lynch has posted a goal in all but three of RMU's eleven contests this season, recording points in all but two games. Lynch leads the Colonials in scoring with 9 goals and 2 assists for 11 points. Michael Louria also has 11 points on 2 goals and 9 assists. Dorowicz's assist runs his point streak to four games.

The loss marks the second time this season that RMU has dropped back-to-back games. The Colonials record sits at 3-7-1 overall and 3-5-1 in Atlantic Hockey play, with four conference contests remaining before the team's first bye week.  

"This is the first time this senior class has been challenged with adversity as far as our record goes," said Schooley. "We have to stick with the process, stick with what we're trying to do. We can't let it snowball into something that really just takes off in the wrong direction."

Robert Morris returns home next Friday night to open a league series with American International at 7:05pm at Colonials Arena. The two-game homestand wraps up Saturday with a 4:05pm contest that will be followed by a team autograph session. For a donation of one canned food item, fans will be given a photo card and invited to participate in an autograph session with the Colonials. Donations will be given to the West Hills Food Pantry located in Moon Township, Pa.


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