PITTSBURGH, Pa. – March 8, 2014 – In a contest that saw the two teams combine for 64 penalty minutes, the Robert Morris University men's ice hockey team fell, 4-2, against Army on Saturday evening at 84 Lumber Arena.

With the loss, Robert Morris (14-17-5, 13-9-5 AHA) and Army (6-27-0, 5-22-0 AHA) will take to the ice Sunday evening in a winner-take-all third game in the first round of the Atlantic Hockey Playoffs.

Offensively, the Colonials were led by Scott Jacklin (Kimberley, British Columbia / Trail Smoke Eaters) who picked up both of the Robert Morris goals in the contest and now has a seven-game point streak that includes three goals during the first-round series.

The two teams combined for seven power-play opportunities in the first period, but it would be an even-strength goal just 65 seconds into the opening frame that gave Army the 1-0 lead. 

Brian Schultz ripped a one-timer in the slot that buzzed past RMU starting goaltender Terry Shafer (Penfield, N.Y. / New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs) as the Black Knights got on the board first.

Despite just four power-play opportunities for the two squads in the second period, the teams would score a total of three power-play goals.

Less than two minutes into the middle frame, Jonathan Gehrt gave the Black Knights a 2-0 advantage while the Colonials were on the penalty kill after Ghert's shot on goal barely trickled over the line behind Shafer.

Three minutes later, Army's lead would grow to three goals as Brian Schultz collected what would be the game-winning goal after he knocked down a shot from the point and carried the puck around Shafer to tuck it behind his outstretched pad to make the score 3-0.

Midway through the second frame, Jacklin got Robert Morris on the board.  Seconds after an Army penalty had expired, Jacklin batted home a puck that was in the air after a save was made by Army netminder Parker Gahagen.

Jacklin's goal would go to an official review and it was deemed that the puck was not played with a high stick and the marker pulled the Colonials within two, 3-1.

The Black Knights would add a second power-play goal in the period when Maurice Alvarez fired a shot on goal that found its way behind a screened Shafer to reinstate the three-goal lead for Army, 4-1.

With less than a minute remaining in the second period, Jacklin netted his second goal of the evening.  On a RMU power play, Jacklin found a soft spot in the slot and took a feed after a rebound was given up by Gahagen and deposited into a yawning cage to make the score 4-2 after two periods.

Looking to tie the game in the third period, the Colonials would spend 13 minutes on the penalty kill that included one major penalty.  In the contest, RMU committed 13 infractions that totaled 37 minutes while Army was whistled for eight penalties while racking up 27 penalty minutes.

Suffering the loss, Shafer made 26 saves between the pipes for RMU while Gahagen stopped 34 shots to give Army the victory.

Since the Colonials joined the AHA, they have played in one other decisive game three.  During the 2012 Playoffs, RMU and AIC faced off in a winner-take-all contest with the Colonials prevailing, 4-3, in overtime.

The two teams will meet again tomorrow evening for the decisive third game in the playoff series.  Faceoff is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.