It was a four-game stretch unlike any other in Robert Morris University's 11-year history at the NCAA Division I level, and the Colonials should be better for it.

"We know where we are as a team now," winger and senior captain Cody Wydo assessed.

After taking on No. 20 Penn State, No. 17 Colgate and No. 13 Bowling Green (twice) all within seven days, the Colonials have a much better idea how their game measures up on a national scale.

They also have a reinforced understanding of what doesn't work.

Allowing 90-plus shot attempts in a game - as the Colonials did in a 6-1 loss to Colgate on Dec. 30 in the championship game of the Three Rivers Classic (94), and again on Sunday night in a 4-1 loss to Bowling Green (96) - will likely get them beat.

Also confirmed was that what had been working in the Atlantic Hockey Conference can likewise work on a larger stage.

"We just need to keep playing with our speed and getting pucks deep (in the offensive zone) and forechecking hard,' Wydo said. "If we keep our forecheck going it'll be easier in our defensive zone because we won't be there as often."

The Colonials held up physically against a Penn State team Robert Morris head coach Derek Schooley had assessed as "big and heavy" prior to the Three Rivers Classic well enough to earn a 4-2 victory on Dec. 29 at CONSOL Energy Center. The Colonials were just as physical, more disciplined and more opportunistic in holding off the Nittany Lions.

And RMU's collective character was a critical component as it rallied from 2-0 down in an outdoor game in the rain to tie Bowling Green 2-2 on Saturday.

"We showed how our team works, how hard everyone works and that we have no quit," winger Brandon Denham maintained.

The Colgate game was an aberration in terms of RMU's almost complete lack of competitiveness.

"We knew we came out flat," Denham said. "It was something that we didn't like.

"It happened."

The Colonials' response thus far has included the come-from-behind tie outdoors and the 4-1 loss to Bowling Green at 84 Lumber Arena in a game the visitors led by just 2-1 after two periods.

"We know we always have to keep moving on and that after a game, the game's over," Denham said.

RMU next moves back into AHC play, beginning with this weekend's home series against Bentley (7:05 p.m., Friday and Saturday, at the Island Sports Center).

At 12-4-4 overall, Robert Morris has maintained its spot in the USCHO.com top 20 (the 1-2-1 showing against ranked opposition dropped the Colonials from No. 19 to No. 20).

But at 9-2-3 and with 21 points in AHC play, Robert Morris has yet to achieve separation from its closest pursuers. Second-place Holy Cross (7-1-5) trails RMU by two points (19) and has a game in hand. And third-place Bentley (7-4-2) is only five points behind (16) and has also played one fewer conference game than RMU.

With 14 regular-season games remaining, the stretch run is at hand.

So are the games that will define the Colonials' season.

"We did well in the first half but we really have to make sure we push in the second half," Denham said. "We don't accomplish anything in the first half; it's all in the second half.

"We gained some confidence in the first half of the season and we kind of made a name for ourselves. But at the end of the day that's something that doesn't go that far and doesn't get your name on trophies, and that's what we want.

"It helped us establish our game and establish how we need to play. Hopefully, we can carry that forward."

A longtime member of the WDVE Morning Show and a college hockey aficianado, Mike Prisuta also previously served as a reporter for the Beaver County Times and as a columnist for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. The Michigan State University graduate got his start in the profession covering the Spartan hockey program.

Follow Mike on Twitter at @DVEMike.