Box Score

MILFORD, Conn. – January 4, 2014 - The Robert Morris University men's ice hockey team took to the ice for the first time in 2014 as the Colonials kicked off a stretch of four games in seven days with a Saturday evening contest against Sacred Heart.  Receiving a solid performance from everyone across the board, RMU prevailed victorious by a score of 2-1 to snap a five-game winless streak.

Zac Lynch (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Bay State Breakers) would record his sixth goal in the past seven games and ninth goal of the season for what would become the game-winning goal with five minutes remaining in the second period.  In a tie game, Lynch positioned himself near the crease and pounced on a loose puck that he then chipped over the glove of Alex Vazzano to give Robert Morris (3-12-2, 3-5-2 AHA) the 2-1 lead.

Just three minutes prior to Lynch's game-winning tally, Sacred Heart (5-14-0, 4-8-0 AHA) got a goal from Ben Lake that pulled the Pioneers even with RMU, 1-1, with eight minutes remaining in the second period.  Lake capitalized on a rush into the attacking zone after a failed clear by the Colonials and beat Robert Morris goaltender Terry Shafer (Penfield, N.Y. / New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs) who was making his 14th start this season.

Just prior to Sacred Heart getting on the board, Shafer would stare down Coltyn Hansen who was awarded a penalty shot after being hauled down on a breakaway.  Shafer stood tall in the crease as Hansen made the first move before Shafer responded to stone Hansen and make the save that preserved the 1-0 lead for Robert Morris.

RMU would get on the board first just 75 seconds into the first period.  Jeff Jones (Revelstoke, British Columbia / Merritt Centennials) picked up his second goal of the season after corralling the puck in the slot and roofing a shot over Vazzano for the early 1-0 advantage.

Shafer finished the contest with 18 saves while picking up the victory, his third of the season.  Shafer's record improves to 3-10-2 while his goals-against average drops to 3.40 and his save percentage rises to .908 on the season.

The victory was the first for the Colonials on the road this season, having entered tonight with a road record of 0-6-1.  The win also marked the first in which the final score was decided by a single goal.  Previously, RMU had lost all six of the one-goal contests it had played in.

All three of RMU's wins this season have come when leading after two periods, a feat that was accomplished this evening with Lynch's goal coming five minutes before the conclusion of the second period.

RMU improved to 9-0-1 all-time against Sacred Heart, including a 3-0-0 record on the road against the Pioneers.  The victory pulled RMU even with the Pioneers in the Atlantic Hockey standings with the two teams each holding eight points.

RMU will continue its Connecticut road trip with a second game against Sacred Heart tomorrow afternoon.  Face off against the Pioneers is scheduled for 4:35 p.m.