PITTSBURGH, Pa.  - Behind a 32-save shutout from senior goaltender Brooks Ostergard, the Robert Morris men's hockey team extended its program-best unbeaten streak to eight games in Saturday night's 4-0 blanking of RIT. With the win, the Colonials move into a three-way tie for second in the Atlantic Hockey Association with RIT and Mercyhurst while the trio trails league-leading Air Force by just one point.

Junior forward Adam Brace (Cobden, Ontario / Canisius) scored twice for the Colonials while senior forward Cody Crichton (Palgrave, Ontario / Brampton Capitals) notched three assists in the win over the Tigers.  Freshmen forward Cody Wydo (Allen Park, Mich. / Motor City Metal Jackets) and Scott Jacklin (Kimberley, British Columbia / Trail Smoke Eaters) also produced goals for RMU.

"Tonight was a great team effort for us, and our whole team played well. The guys did everything they needed to, and they deserved a win like this," Colonials head coach Derek Schooley said. "It's a great way to go into the break, and now we just have to come back the same way for the RMU Hockey Showcase at the end of the month."

The team effort was highlighted by Ostergard (Chagrin Falls, Ohio / Bay State Breakers), who shined in net for the Colonials and improved to 5-4-2 on the season. The senior remained unbeaten in his last seven starts (5-0-2) and picked up his third-career clean sheet in the 32-save performance. Ostergard, who also his third-career assist in the win,  was helped mightily by an RMU defense that shut down the Tigers' offense all night while the nation's best penalty killing unit blanked RIT in five chances – including a dangerous 5-on-3 opportunity to start the second period -- to improve to 71-for-75 (.947) on the season.

Despite being outshot 32-27 in the contest, RMU (9-6-2 overall, 7-2-2 Atlantic Hockey) jumped out to an early lead when Brace knocked in a rebound at 5:08 of the first period after RIT goalie Shane Madolora stopped Crichton's initial shot. Senior forward James Lyle (Nepean, Ontario / Smith Falls Bears) also earned an assist on the goal.

After the Colonials' penalty kill stifled nearly a minute of two-man advantage for the Tigers in the beginning of the second period, Brace would add to the lead with his sixth goal of the season at 7:55 – this time lighting the lamp on a beautiful two-on-one with Crichton that was set up by a clearing attempt by Ostergard. 

RIT (8-6-2, 7-2-2) would surrender one more goal in the second stanza when Jacklin sent home his seventh of the year with just 48 seconds remaining in the period off a behind-the-net rebound from Nick Chiavetta (Harrisburg, Pa. / New York Applecore). Freshman defenseman Tyson Wilson (Brockville, Ontario / Brockville Braves) also earned an assist on the power-play goal from Jacklin. Robert Morris would go 1-for-8 on the power play in the win.

The Colonials' red-hot offense would get one more behind Madolora as Crichton picked up his third assist of the night – feeding a wide-open Wydo from behind the net at 16:09 of the third to make it a four-goal game. Sophomore defenseman Jimmy Geerin (Anchorage, Alaska / Burnaby Express) would also tally a helper on the scoring play.

Robert Morris returns to action on Dec. 30 with the RMU Hockey Showcase at the CONSOL Energy Center in downtown Pittsburgh. No. 4 Ohio State comes to town for the 7:35 p.m. game. Tickets are still available at RMUColonials.com.

-Robert Morris University, 2013 NCAA® Frozen Four® Host Institution-