Box Score PITTSBURGH, Pa. – January 24, 2014 - The Robert Morris University men's ice hockey team continued its six-game homestand on Friday evening when the Air Force Academy traveled to Pittsburgh, Pa. to start a two-game series. The Colonials extended their unbeaten streak to four games with a 3-1 victory over the Falcons, snapping a five-game losing streak against Air Force.
A power-play goal from David Friedmann (Toronto, Ontario / Toronto Jr. Canadiens) in the second period proved to be the game-winning goal as Robert Morris (7-13-3, 7-6-3 AHA) and goaltender Terry Shafer (Penfield, N.Y. / New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs) came within five seconds of shutting out Air Force (14-7-4, 9-4-3 AHA).
After a scoreless first period, the Colonials got on the board first just 75 seconds into the middle frame. Jumping into the play, Chase Golightly (Temecula, Calif. / Prince George Spruce Kings) collected a pass into the slot and beat the Air Force goaltender, Chris Truehl, for his third goal of the season. Golightly last scored on Nov. 16, the last time these two teams met, a span of 13 games.
Carrying a one-goal lead into the third period, Friedmann would put Robert Morris up 2-0 during the fifth minute of action in the third period. Friedmann's sixth goal of the season, and team-leading fourth power-play goal, came after intercepting a clearing attempt by the Falcons and ripping a wristshot from the right-wing circle past Truehl.
With Truehl pulled in favor of an extra attacker for Air Force, Brandon Denham (Milton, Ontario / Oakville Blades) would make the score 3-0 with his fourth goal of the season, an empty-net goal. Controlling the play in the offensive zone, Denham picked up a pass in the slot and fed it into the yawning cage.
With just five seconds remaining in the contest, Air Force ended the shutout bid of Shafer. Mitch Torrel deflected a shot from the point while positioned in the slot, screening Shafer and making the final score 3-1.
Shafer finished the contest with 23 saves while improving his record to 7-11-3 this season. The sophomore goaltender now carries a four-game unbeaten streak, allowing a total of eight goals in those games while going 3-0-1.
Three Colonials currently hold four-game point streaks – Denham, Greg Gibson (Burlington, Ontario / Amarillo Bulls), and Jeff Jones (Revelstoke, British Columbia). Gibson has collected three goals and three assists for six points in the four most recent games while Denham and Jones have put up two goals and three assists for five points in the past four contests.
Robert Morris and Air Force will face off again tomorrow evening at 7:05 p.m. to close out the two-game series at 84 Lumber Arena.
