With the loss, Robert Morris (13-16-5, 13-9-5 AHA) finishes the regular season in fifth place amongst the 12 Atlantic Hockey programs.

After tying the program record for goals in yesterday's contest, Cody Wydo (Southgate, Mich. / Motor City Metal Jackets) established a new bar for the Colonials with his 23rd goal of the season.  Wydo's goal pulled the Colonials within a goal of Mercyhurst (19-12-7, 17-4-6 AHA) midway through the third period and made the score 3-2.

The Lakers would get on the board first, six minutes into the middle frame after the two teams had a scoreless first period.  Kyle Just netted the goal for Mercyhurst, a shorthanded tally, after he pounced on a rebound given up by starting goaltender Terry Shafer (Penfield, N.Y. / New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs) to put RMU behind, 1-0.

A power-play goal from Daniel O'Donoghue, the result of tic-tac-toe passing to move Shafer in the crease, came less than two minutes later would double Mercyhurst's advantage, 2-0.

On his senior night, Colin South (Sewickley, Pa. / Bay State Breakers) broke the ice for RMU, picking up his seventh goal of the season with seven minutes remaining in the second period to make the score 2-1.  South was able to chip a loose puck over the pad of Jordan Tibbett, the starting goaltender for Mercyhurst.

Before the end of the second frame, Mercyhurst would regain its two-goal advantage after O'Donoghue's second goal of the evening.  The goal to make it 3-1 came after O'Donoghue ripped a one-timer past Shafer.

Wydo's goal started the third-period scoring for the two teams as he knocked down a shot towards net then proceeded to shuffle the puck to his forehand and bank a shot off of the bottom of the left post and behind Tibbett, making the score 3-2.

In the final four minutes, Mercyhurst would add a pair of goal to hold off a RMU charge that got 24 shots on net in the third period.  The goal to make it 4-2 came from Nardo Nagtzaam after he caused a turnover in front of the RMU net and got the puck behind a startled Shafer.

Mercyhurst added a second power-play marker with just four seconds remaining in the contest.  Trent Frey made the final score 5-2 with a shot from the slot beating Shafer.

Seeing his record drop to 13-14-5, Shafer recorded 22 saves in the loss.

The Colonials had 48 of their 50 shots on goal turned away by Tibbett, marking the second time this season that RMU had recorded at least 50 shots on goal.

Finishing fifth in the AHA, Robert Morris will host a first-round playoff series this upcoming weekend.  Starting on Friday, March 7, the Colonials will take on Army as the Black Knights make their second trip to RMU this season.  The best-of-three series will also take place on Saturday, March 8, and Sunday, March 9, if necessary.

The Colonials won the season series against Army this season, taking both games by scores of 4-0 and 6-4.

Tickets for the first round series will be available through the Robert Morris Ticket Office either online at www.rmucolonials.com or by calling (412) 397-4949.