Pittsburgh, Pa. – The Robert Morris University men's hockey team put forth one of its best efforts in recent memory Saturday night at 84 Lumber Arena, but its nine-game unbeaten streak to start the season came to a sudden end.

Scott Holm scored 29 seconds into overtime to give visiting Air Force a 2-1 victory over the Colonials, who fell one goal shy of setting a program record for consecutive games without a loss. Cody Wydo scored a spectacular tying tally late in regulation for RMU, which remains in first place in the Atlantic Hockey Conference despite the defeat.

Robert Morris (7-1-2, 5-1-2 AHC) fired 45 shots on goal to Air Force's 24, but Falcons sophomore goalie Chris Truehl earned his first win in four career games against the Colonials with an outstanding performance. RMU had the territorial advantage all night, including a 16-8 shot advantage in the third and a 70-47 margin in total shot attempts.

"I thought we played great," said RMU head coach Derek Schooley. "You play like that and more often than not you'll get rewarded. We weren't tonight, but that happens sometimes."

The Colonials trailed 1-0 until Air Force's Dan Weissenhofer was penalized for tripping with 8:50 to go in regulation. RMU peppered Truehl in the first minute of the power play, but couldn't get the equalizer. That's when the Colonials' all-time top goal-scorer came through.

Tyson Wilson and Scott Jacklin relayed the puck quickly through the neutral zone to Wydo, who roared down the left wing and into the offensive zone. An Air Force defender stumbled, giving Wydo the opening to drive the net for a perfect backhand flick across his body.

Wydo's seventh goal of the season and 72nd of his career ended with him crashing into the net as a boisterous Island Sports Center crowd celebrated. The Colonials charged even harder after Wydo's amazing strike, but they and the Falcons (2-6-3, 2-2-2 AHC) had to settle for overtime for the second consecutive night.

"It was an unbelievable goal (by Wydo)," said sophomore forward Daniel Leavens. "I thought after that we had a good push, but unfortunately it was one of those nights where we couldn't get a bounce."

Unlike Friday's 3-3 tie, Saturday's extra session was short-lived.

RMU controlled the puck off the opening faceoff, but a turnover in the Air Force zone got three Colonials trapped. The ensuing Falcons counterattack ended when Cole Gunner fed Holm in the left circle for the winning one-timer past a lunging Dalton Izyk.

Izyk stopped 22 shots on a mostly quiet night. Although the sophomore allowed two goals, his save percentage of .968 and goals-against average of 1.00 remain among the very best in Division I.

The Colonials got off to a much more effective start than Friday night, when they trailed 2-0 and 3-1 before rallying. RMU outshot (16-5) and out-attempted (24-11) Air Force in the first period, controlling the puck for long stretches at a time.

"I thought we overall played a good 60 (minutes)," Leavens said. "Last night we were kind of iffy in the first two periods. Coach said it was one of the best efforts of the season. He said he was more proud of us tonight than in some of the games we've won."

Brady Ferguson and Spencer Dorowicz each had great looks at the net in the first period, but both of their shots went just wide.

Ferguson had another opportunity early in the second, steering John Rey's hard pass barely off target from near the left post. Air Force caught a bit of tough luck moments later when Gunner's wrister hit the right post, but he made good with his second opportunity with the Falcons on a 4-on-3 power play.

During that advantage, Gunner took a short pass from A.J. Reid in the left circle and snapped a shot though several bodies and into the top-right corner of the net at 13:11. Gunner's team-leading fifth goal of the season gave the visitors the lead entering the third period for the second consecutive night.

But the Colonials rallied once again, preventing what would've been their first goal-less game in nearly two years. Coincidentally, Air Force was the last team to shut out RMU back on Jan. 25, 2013 - 68 games ago.

Robert Morris returns to the road next weekend with a pair at conference foe American International. The Colonials are 2-0-1 away from 84 Lumber Arena this season.

"We have high standards here," Leavens said. "Last night we were upset with the tie and we're upset with the loss tonight, but it's just one game and we have to get ready to go for next Friday."