PITTSBURGH, Pa. - Nov. 5, 2011 - The Robert Morris men's hockey team set a new attendance record on Saturday night as 1,346 fans packed Clearview Arena to witness a 2-0 win for American International. The Colonials split the weekend series with the Yellowjackets after taking Friday's opener with a 2-0 win of their own.
American International jumped out to a 1-0 lead midway through the first period on Saturday when Rob Blanchette tallied his first of the year at 10:01. Blanchette beat RMU goalie Eric Levine (Wheeling, Ill. / Pembroke Lumber Kings) for the first time this weekend after being set up by Michael Penny and Jon Puskar. Puskar would factor into the Yellowjackets' second goal of the night - again tallying an assist - when Nathan Sliwinski scored at 8:25 of the second with a backhand shot that snuck through Levine in net. Steve Mele was also credited with an assist on the goal.
Special teams situations played a pivotal role in Saturday's game specifically in the second period as both teams had to kill of five-minute major penalties. Shortly after the Yellowjackets' second goal, the Colonials went on a five-minute power play as Sliwinski received a game misconduct. The Colonials were unable to capitalize on that opportunity as Yellowjacket goaltender Ben Meisner stood tall in net. Robert Morris would have to kill off a major penalty of its own as senior Furman South (Sewickley, Pa. / Bay State Breakers) was sent off for a contact to head penalty.
The Colonials (3-6-0 overall, 1-2-0 Atlantic Hockey) killed off all three of American International's penalties on Saturday and remained perfect on the weekend, going 7-for-7 against the Yellowjackets. On the season, the Colonials have gone 38-of-40 on the penalty kill (.950).
As the third period wound down, the Colonials had their share of chances with two power plays and an extra skater with Levine pulled from the net for a majority of the final two minutes. RMU would outshoot American International 33-18 on the night and 9-3 in the third period; however, the Colonials could not find a way to beat Meisner. The Yellowjackets goalie would pick up the shutout with 33 saves on the night.
The Colonials fired off 33 shots on Meisner in tonight's game with sophomore Colin South (Sewickley, Pa. / Bay State Breakers) and senior Ron Cramer (New Wilmington, Pa. / Indiana Ice) leading the team with seven shots each. Levine ended the game with 16 saves.
The Colonials return to action as they travel to Erie, Pa. on Friday, November 11 to take on in-state rival Mercyhurst at 7:05 pm.
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