STORRS, Conn. – January 9, 2014 - The Robert Morris University men's ice hockey team returned to action for a rare Thursday evening tilt with Connecticut. RMU's newfound momentum in 2014 after a sweep last weekend came to a screeching halt as the Colonials suffered a 5-1 loss on the road to the Huskies.
A third period goal from Scott Jacklin (Kimberley, British Columbia / Trail Smoke Eaters) was the only offense that Robert Morris (4-13-2, 4-6-2 AHA) was able to generate in the game that saw a pair of Connecticut (10-6-2, 8-3-1 AHA) skater put forth multi-goal performances.
Connecticut would pick up the game's first goal with its first shot of the game at the 7:38 mark of the first period. A Robert Morris turnover allowed the Huskies to set up shop behind the net of Terry Shafer (Penfield, N.Y. / New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs) and feed a pass to the slot where Billy Latta capitalized to give Connecticut a 1-0 lead.
The deficit facing RMU would double less than a minute later when the Huskies would find the back of the net with their second shot on goal. Brant Harris deflected a shot from the point that found its way over the glove of Shafer as the Colonials now trailed, 2-0.
After allowing a pair of goals on two shots, Shafer was pulled in favor of Dalton Izyk (Oswego, N.Y. / Indiana Ice). Izyk would fair no better as he allowed a goal on the first shot he faced. Harris notched his second goal of the period less than three minutes after his first as Connecticut extended its lead to 3-0 with just its third shot on goal.
With just ten seconds remaining in the second period, Latta would add his second goal of the game with a shot that somehow found its way behind Izyk to give Connecticut a 4-0 advantage.
Connecticut would add a fifth goal to its lead over the Colonials in the third period. Latta would record a hat trick with a power-play goal coming at the 6:16 mark of the period when RMU had two players in the penalty box and were skating 5-on-3.
Izyk finished with 32 saves in his relief appearance, a career high for the freshman. Prior to tonight's contest, Izyk had made 39 saves in his three previous appearances this season.
The nine-day journey to and around the state of Connecticut will come to an end tomorrow for the Colonials. RMU will finish the two-game series against the Connecticut Huskies with a 5:05 faceoff on Friday afternoon in what will be the final regular-season meeting between the two teams as the Huskies will move to Hockey East next season.
