ROCHESTER, N.Y. – February 8, 2014 – The Robert Morris University men's ice hockey team extended its unbeaten streak to nine games with a 5-1 victory on Saturday evening over the RIT Tigers.  The unbeaten streak is the longest in program history, surpassing an eight-game streak during the 2011-12 season.

Three second-period goals would allow Robert Morris (11-13-4, 11-6-4 AHA) to pull away from RIT (8-15-5, 7-11-3 AHA) en route to the victory.  The first goal of the middle frame came 81 seconds into the period when Cody Wydo (Southgate, Mich. / Motor City Metal Jackets) scored his AHA-leading 21st goal of the season.  Wydo received a cross-ice pass as he entered the offensive zone along the left-wing boards.  With a defenseman matching him stride-for-stride, Wydo deked around the Tiger while dragging the puck between the defenseman's legs and then got off a backhanded shot that beat Mike Rotolo over the glove to give the Colonials a 2-1 lead.

Seven minutes later, Andrew Blazek (Pittsburgh Pa. / Topeka Roadrunners) would add to the RMU lead with his second goal of the season.  Blazek got off a quick shot from the blueline that found its way through a sea of bodies and behind a screened Rotolo to make the score 3-1 in favor of the Colonials.

With five minutes remaining in the middle frame, Robert Morris increased its lead to three goals after Scott Jacklin (Kimberley, British Columbia / Trail Smoke Eaters) netted his eighth goal of the season.  Jacklin, capitalized on RIT focusing its attention to Wydo in the offensive zone and found himself all alone at the right post where he was able to tuck the puck behind Rotolo to make the score 4-1.

As was the case in yesterday's contest, RIT would open the scoring in the first period.  Working with a two-man advantage, the Tigers took the 1-0 lead after a goal by Ben Lynch who got a shot off in the slot that beat RMU goaltender Terry Shafer (Penfield, N.Y. / New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs).

Less than two minutes later, the Colonials responded with a power-play goal of their own to tie the game, 1-1.  Zac Lynch (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Bay State Breakers) deflected a shot from the point while screening RIT goaltender Mike Rotolo for his 14th goal of the season that ensured the two teams would be deadlocked after 20 minutes of play.

After the three-goal second period by Robert Morris, Jacklin picked up his second goal of the evening with nine minutes remaining in the final frame.  Streaking in on an odd-man rush, back-and-forth passing forced Rotolo to over-commit to his stick side before Jacklin received a return pass and deposited the puck into the yawning net to put the Colonials up 5-1.

Shafer followed up his 40-save performance yesterday with a 26-save effort in tonight's victory.  Shafer now has a record of 11-11-4 with a 2.80 goals-against average and a .917 save percentage.

Next on the schedule for Robert Morris is a home-and-home series against Niagara.  The two-game series kicks off on Thursday evening in Niagara University, N.Y. before the two teams return to Pittsburgh, Pa. for the second game on Saturday, Feb. 15.