ROBERT MORRIS (5-0-1, 3-0-1 AHC) vs. RIT (2-3-0, 1-1-0 AHC)
Friday, Oct. 31 & Saturday, Nov. 1 at 7:05 p.m. | 84 Lumber Arena at RMU Island Sports Center
Listen: 970 ESPN (970espn.com) with Steve Kolbe (play-by-play) and Mike Prisuta (analysis)

THE MATCHUP
Off to their best start in program history, the undefeated Robert Morris University Colonials continue Atlantic Hockey play with a pair at home against RIT. Among D-I teams that have played more than four games, RMU is the only one without a loss. In addition, Robert Morris' 3-0-1 record in the AHC is also the program's best start against league opponents. RMU leads second-place Canisius (3-1-0) by one point in the standings. Friday night will feature a costume contest between periods for all in attendance at 84 Lumber Arena.

ABOUT ROBERT MORRIS
- For the third time this calendar year, RMU had two players earn weekly honors at once. Senior wing Cody Wydo and sophomore goalie Dalton Izyk were recognized by the AHC for their efforts against Army last weekend.
- As for Wydo, it's his fifth weekly honor in the past two seasons. After a school-record 54-point junior season, the Michigan native is on pace to at least match that total, with 10 points (6g, 4a) in the first six games.
- Izyk has won two of the first three Goalie of the Week awards this season, adding to the pair he collected last spring during RMU's run to the NCAA tournament. The New Yorker has stopped 97 of 98 shots so far, good for a .990 save percentage and two shutouts.
- Boosted by the goalie tandem of Izyk and junior Terry Shafer, the Colonials have allowed just seven goals in six games, the fourth-best per-game rate (1.17) in Division I.
- Junior Matt Cope scored his second shorthanded goal in three games last Friday. They are the first two of his NCAA career.
- Saturday's tie with Army was RMU's first since Feb. 28 against Mercyhurst, a span of 15 games.

SCOUTING RIT
- The Tigers come to Neville Island after splitting a pair against Air Force in Colorado Springs last weekend. RIT prevailed 5-1 on Friday before suffering a controversial 4-3 overtime loss Saturday.
- RIT went 12-20-5 overall and 10-14-3 in Atlantic Hockey last season, finishing ninth of 12 teams. The Tigers were eliminated by Holy Cross in the first round of the conference playoffs, with two of the three games going to overtime.
- Junior forward Josh Mitchell is RIT's leading scorer, with four assists and six total points. Senior co-captains Brad McGowan and matt Garbowsky have five points each; McGowan paces the Tigers with three goals.
- Junior Pittsburgh native Alexander Kuqali is RIT's leading scorer on the blueline, with two goals and an assist. 6-foot-4 freshman defenseman Matt Abt has three helpers.
- Sophomore goalie Mike Rotolo has been given the majority of the playing time, starting three of the five games, including both last weekend at Air Force.
- Head coach Wayne Wilson took over the Tigers program in 1999, when it was a part of NCAA Division III. He has twice won national coach of the year awards, including in 2010 when RIT made a surprise run to the Frozen Four.

COLONIALS IN THE MEDIA
Wydo's hat trick helps Colonials earn tie at Army
RMU continues to gain ground in national polls
City of Champions: Colonials drawing college-ready talent from unlikely sources
Prisuta on Pucks: RMU on its details early
USCHO: Coach Schooley appears on USCHO Live! podcast
Sentry Media: Moores are latest set of brothers to play for RMU
College Hockey News: Robert Morris avoiding repeat of last year's start

What a Start: By winning their first five games of the 2014-15 season, the Colonials not only established the best start in program history, they also matched their longest win streak in 11 years of Division I hockey. Their six-game unbeaten streak to start (5-0-1) is three shy of the longest ever for RMU, a nine-gamer in 2013-14 (7-0-2).

Carrying it Over: After earning 17 victories in their final 26 games last spring, the Colonials have stayed on that impressive pace this fall. Since Jan. 4, RMU is 24-6-4, boasting three separate five-game winning streaks and unbeaten runs of six games (current) and nine (Jan. 10 - Feb. 8).

Brotherly Love: With freshman forward Timmy Moore making his NCAA debut Oct. 25 at Army, he and junior defenseman Evan Moore became the third brother tandem to skate together for the Colonials. The Moores, of Grosse Pointe, Michigan, join Colin and Furman South as well as Dave and Rob Cowan in that rare club.

At the Polls: The Colonials bumped up to an unofficial 21st in the USCHO national poll and 20th in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine survey after starting the season with a 5-0-1 record. Following its strong finish to last season, RMU earned votes in both preseason polls, ranking 26th. 

Breaking Through: After sophomore defensemen John Rey (40th game) and Rob Mann (14th) netted their first NCAA goals in the season's first month, there is one non-freshmen still seeking his first RMU tally: senior forward David Rigatti, who has played 85 NCAA games entering the weekend and has 10 assists to his credit.

VIDEO PREVIEW:
Matt Gajtka caught up with RMU Student-Athlete of the Week Wydo and head coach Derek Schooley to discuss the weekend at Army and what lies against with RIT coming to the Island.




GAME NOTES: