ROCHESTER, N.Y. – February 7, 2014 – On the road for the first time in almost a month, the Robert Morris University men's ice hockey team took on RIT in a key Atlantic Hockey match on Friday evening.  The Colonials extended their unbeaten streak to eight games, tying a program record, with a 2-2 tie in the first game of the two-game series.

The tie would not come easy, as Robert Morris (10-13-4, 10-6-4 AHA) never held the lead at any point in the contest and battled back from 1-0 and 2-1 deficits.  The Colonials had to withstand a RIT (8-14-5, 7-10-3 AHA) power play in the final minutes of the overtime to preserve the unbeaten streak.

Down a goal with three minutes remaining in the third, Cody Wydo (Southgate, Mich. / Motor City Metal Jackets) forced the overtime period with his 20th goal of the season that tied the game, 2-2.  Receiving a pass on his backhand from the right-wing boards, Wydo spun around to his forehand and let go of a wristshot that beat the Tiger goaltender, Mike Rotolo.

RIT would get on the board first with a power-play goal to take a 1-0 lead with just over two minutes remaining in the first period.  Mike Colavecchia would find time and space in the slot and beat Colonial starting netminder Terry Shafer (Penfield, N.Y. / New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs) who could not get from post-to-post in time to make the save.

The Colonials would even the score at the ten-minute mark of the second period.  Greg Gibson (Burlington, Ontario / Amarillo Bulls) netted his seventh goal of the season with a blistering shot from the left-wing circle that beat RIT goaltender Mike Rotolo to tie the game, 1-1.

Just 68 seconds into the third period, the Tigers would reclaim the lead.  A puck thrown on net by Josh Mitchell was deflected in front of Shafer and bounced over the goaltender's shoulder to give RIT a 2-1 lead.

Wydo's goal answered the RIT tally and was assisted by Brandon Denham (Milton, Ontario / Oakville Blades).  With the assist, Denham extended his personal point streak to eight games, recording four goals and five assists during the Colonials' unbeaten streak.

Allowing just the two goals, Shafer made sure that Robert Morris had a chance to remain within striking distance of the Tigers and finished the contest with 40 saves.  This was Shafer's second game this season with at least 40 saves as he improved his record to 10-11-4 while lowering his goals-against average to 2.88 and raising his save percentage to .915.

The two teams will meet again tomorrow evening at 7:05 to conclude the two-game series as the Colonials look to extend their unbeaten streak to nine games and establish a new program record.