OMAHA, Neb. - Oct. 8, 2011 -Behind a 29-save performance by junior goalie Eric Levine, the Robert Morris men's hockey team picked up its first win of the season on Saturday night, downing Mercyhurst 2-1 in the Mutual of Omaha Stampede consolation game. Junior forwards Zach Hervato and Adam Brace tallied their first goals of the season to push the Colonials to victory.
Levine (Wheeling, Ill. / Pembroke Lumber Kings) backstopped a defensive gem for Robert Morris, logging over 53 minutes of shutout hockey in net to pick up the win. Facing 30 shots on goal by the Lakers, the junior allowed only one goal to earn the win in his first appearance of the season.
The Colonials (1-1-0 overall, 0-0-0 Atlantic Hockey) were actually outshot 25-30 in the contest but made the most of their opportunities. Hervato (Stittsville, Ontario / Smith Falls Bears) put RMU up 1-0 in the first period when he tallied for the first time this season at 9:55. Senior forward Trevor Lewis (Lititz, Pa. / Syracuse Stars), who scored the Colonials' only goal on Friday, and sophomore forward Colin South (Sewickley, Pa. / Bay State Breakers) were credited with assists on the goal.
After the first intermission, Brace (Cobden, Ontario / Canisius) went to work quickly to score his 30th-career point for the Colonials - scoring just 59 seconds into the second session for his first goal of the year. The eventual game winner was set up by senior forward Ron Cramer (New Wilmington, Pa. / Indiana Ice), who made his 101st career appearance for RMU on Saturday, and junior defenseman Brendan Jamison (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Jersey Hitmen).
Mercyhurst (0-2-0, 0-0-0 Atlantic Hockey) would cut the lead to one goal in the third - the only period that the Lakers did not outshoot the Colonials (8-11, 6-9, 11-10). Trent Frey would tally his first goal of the year at 13:20 of the third with an assist from Daniel Bahntge. The Lakers would make one final push in the contest, pulling goalie Max Strang with 33 seconds left, but the Colonials' Atlantic Hockey rivals were unable to find the equalizer. Strang allowed a pair of goals in the loss, making 23 saves.
Robert Morris returns to action next weekend with a road game at Air Force on Sunday.
Colonial Notes: With a goal and an assist over the weekend, Lewis was named to the All-Tournament Team; the win gives Robert Morris its second victory over the Lakers in the two teams' short history dating back to 2004 (2-3-2); the Colonials penalty kill unit stifled two power-play opportunities for Mercyhurst, keeping the Lakers from tallying a shot while on the advantage; Robert Morris was 5-for-5 on the penalty kill all weekend - allowing just one shot; RMU was 0-for-2 on the power play - recording three shots on the advantage.
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