Springfield, Mass. ? The Robert Morris University men's ice hockey defeated American International, 6-3, Saturday afternoon at the Olympia Ice Center. With the victory the Colonials are now, 8-7-2, on the season. With their six goals this afternoon, RMU has scored 27 goals in its last four games. AIC falls to 4-12-2 on the season with the loss.

Senior Ryan Cruthers (Farmingdale, N.Y. / Army) opened the scoring for the Colonials just 1:11 into the game, marking the quickest goal to start a game in the program's history, giving RMU an early 1-0 lead. Chris Margott (Thousand Oaks, Calif. / Bay State Breakers) and Logan Bittle (Peoria, Ill. / Soo Indians) tallied assists on the play. The Yellow Jackets took their only lead of the two-game series with two consecutive goals from Mike Field and Chris Campanale at the 11:34 and 17:57 marks ending the first session with the Colonials trailing 2-1.

Robert Morris took the lead for good with a pair of power-play goals by defenseman Chris Kaufman (Gig Harbor, Wash. / Helena Bighorns). Nathan Longpre (Peterborough, Ontario / Mahoning Valley Phantoms) and Denny Urban (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Ohio Blue Jackets) picked up assists on the first goal at the 7:27 mark, while Cruthers and Margott tallied assists on the second 5:11 later. American International tied the game at three with a power-play goal from Mark Pavli with 6:30 left in the second frame.

The Colonials came out smoking in the third period scoring three unanswered goals giving them a, 6-3, victory. Cruthers picked up his second goal of the game 3:37 into the period with Margott and Bittle picking up assists on the play. Tom Biondich (International Falls, Minn. / Wichita Falls Rustlers) scored 1:39 later with Brett Hopfe (Didsbury, Alberta / Olds Grizzlys) and Joel Gasper (Crookston, Minn. / Billings Bulls). Sean Berkstresser (Apollo, Pa. / Pittsburgh Forge) scored the final goal f the game with 9:18 left in the games with Dave Cowan (Calgary, Alberta / Olds Grizzlys) and Andrew Bonello (Brampton, Ontario / Milton Icehawks) picked up assists on the play.

Senior goalie Christian Boucher (Orleans, Ontario / Cumberland Grads) made 25 saves on 28 shots, while Tom Fenton allowed six goals on 36 shots for AIC.

RMU went 2-for-4 on the power-play, while AIC converted once on six chances. The Colonials outshot the Yellow Jackets, 36-28.

The Colonials return to action Friday Jan. 11 when they travel to Niagara for a CHA showdown with the Purple Eagles.