Box Score

PITTSBURGH, Pa. – November 22, 2013 - The Robert Morris University men's ice hockey team returned home after a week on the road to host Holy Cross on Friday evening.  The Colonials would let a 1-0 lead slip away as they suffered a 2-1 loss dealt to them by the Crusaders at the 84 Lumber Arena.

Robert Morris (1-8-1, 1-3-1 AHA) picked up a first period goal from Matt Cope (Lakewood, Colo. / Weantchee Wild) while on the power play for the early lead.  Holy Cross (3-8-0, 3-3-0 AHA) responded with two goals in the final two periods to hand RMU its third consecutive defeat.

On the game's first power play, the Colonials took the lead with Cope's first goal of the season.  With a rush into the zone, Scott Jacklin (Kimberley, British Columbia / Trail Smoke Eaters) dropped the puck to Jeff Jones (Revelstoke, British Columbia / Merritt Centennials) as they entered the attacking zone.  Jones then found Cope streaking in on the left wing where he would rip a shot over the glove of Matt Ginn, the Holy Cross goaltender. 

Cope's goal at the 13:55 mark of the first period would be the only score of the frame as the Colonials held a 1-0 lead after 20 minutes of play.

It would take Holy Cross just 58 seconds of action in the second period to tie the game as Tim Driscoll made the score 1-1.  Driscoll controlled a deflected puck and got the shot past Terry Shafer (Penfield, N.Y. / New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs) as the second period woes continued for RMU.

With the scored tied heading into the third period, Holy Cross claimed its first lead of the contest five minutes into the final frame.  A shot from the left point was deflected by Mike McNamara in the slot as Shafer was unable to recover from the sudden change in flight of the puck.

Down a goal, the Colonials would pull Shafer for the final 78 seconds forcing some tense moments in the offensive zone that forced Ginn and his defensemen to make multiple saves to ensure Robert Morris fell, 2-1.

Capitalizing on 20 percent of its power plays this season, RMU finished the contest going one of two with the man advantage.  The Colonials killed off both of the power plays that were awarded to Holy Cross.  The two kills marked the first time since Oct. 12 that Robert Morris did not allow a power-play goal to their opponent.

The Colonials finished the contest with 36 shots on goal, eclipsing their average of 34.78 shots per game.  Defensively, RMU held Holy Cross to just 29 shots on goal, including just three in the final period as Shafer finished the contest with 27 saves.

The two teams will meet again tomorrow afternoon for a 3:35 p.m. contest that will see the Colonials skate at the 84 Lumber Arena for the final time in 2013.