Skip To Main Content

Robert Morris University Athletics

gibson lynch golightly 3RC
Fred Vuich/For RMU Athletics
0
Army West Point ARMY 9-12-7; 7-10-7 AHC
3
Winner Robert Morris RMU 18-8-4; 15-5-4 AHC
Army West Point ARMY
9-12-7; 7-10-7 AHC
0
Final
3
Robert Morris RMU
18-8-4; 15-5-4 AHC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 F
Army West Point ARMY 0 0 0 0
Robert Morris RMU 0 0 3 3

Game Recap: Men's Hockey | | Ashley Chase

Third Period Burst Powers Colonials to Victory

Robert Morris clinches first-round bye, Seniors become winningest class in program history

Pittsburgh, Pa. – Back-to-back third period goals by Greg Gibson and Timmy Moore propelled Robert Morris University men's hockey to a 3-0 win over Army West Point Saturday night. The victory was the 81st career win for the Class of 2016 seniors, making them the winningest class in program history. The Colonials secured a first-round bye for the Atlantic Hockey playoffs with the victory as well.

After two periods of scoreless physical hockey, the Colonials furious offensive pressure throughout the night finally paid off 7:31 into the third. Greg Gibson fired a shot from the point that found the back of the net, with assists by Chase Golightly and Matt Cope. Cope worked with the puck near the net, drawing defenders to him and chipped the puck out to Golightly who slid the pass to Gibson for the one-timer. Daniel Leavens shot the puck and it caromed off Parker Gahagen's pads and right on the stick of Timmy Moore who fired the puck bar down and in to give the Colonials a 2-0 lead. Moore and Gibson scored 1:14 seconds apart to swing the momentum in Robert Morris' favor. Gahagen was outstanding against the Colonials this weekend and finished with 44 saves Saturday night.

"It was a great shot," said Gibson, referring to Moore's goal. "With other guys contributing, that's his second of the year. In a game like that, playoff hockey, it's great to see."
But Terry Shafer had his own goaltending story to pen, posting 40 saves including making several stops in a scrum in front of the net with 8.9 seconds to play. The shutout is the fourth of the season for Shafer and the eighth of his career, extending his program record.

"You have to have faith in your team that they're going to get it done and just hold up your end of the bargain," said Shafer.

"I don't know how many shutouts he has now but it's up there," said Gibson, who later added the empty net goal to run his season goal total to 22, leading Atlantic Hockey. "He's playing great for us right now, hopefully he can keep playing like that in the playoffs."

Offense was a struggle for both teams through the first forty minutes of play with Colonials Lynch with multiple chances that were just off the mark, including a shorthanded breakaway during the final seconds of a Black Knights power play.

"It was obviously pretty frustrating to be able to have those opportunities and not take the lead," said Lynch. "Getting those chances is good. It shows that we were outworking them and getting those opportunities."

Golightly factored in on two of the Colonials goals while Tyson Wilson assisted on the other. Wilson is the second-leading scoring defenseman in the conference with 21 points while Golightly is third with 20 points, both career-high marks. Wilson blocked four shots to lead the team, while Rob Mann blocked three, running his conference-leading blocks total to 75.

Despite the physicality of the game, Army's eight minor penalties resulted in just four power plays and the Colonials went 0-4 on those opportunities. That physical play didn't allow for much offensive flow or many rush opportunities.

"That's how teams are going to play us," Schooley said. "We have to play those games, and we have to learn how to play them now because that's the way it's going to be in a couple weeks."

That playoff feel will continue for Robert Morris (18-8-4, 15-5-4 AHC) as they travel to face second place Air Force Academy (15-10-5, 13-6-5 AHC). The Colonials have clinched a first-round bye for the Atlantic Hockey conference playoffs, now guaranteed at least a fifth-place finish. The Falcons trail first-place Robert Morris by three points, with RIT third, Holy Cross fourth and Mercyhurst fifth.

15599
Print Friendly Version