Colorado Springs, Co. -- Robert Morris University men's hockey could not get the offense or power play going, unable to overcome a fast start by Air Force Academy in a 4-1 loss Saturday night.
Johnny Hrabovsky and Erik Baskin scored goals :25 and 1:04 into the contest, ending
Terry Shafer's night early after an outstanding 45 save effort Friday night. The Colonials offense would only minimally respond, recording just five shots on goal in both the first and second periods.
Andrew Pikul entered the game in goal at the 1:04 mark of the first period, his fifth career appearance. Air Force tallied a shorthanded goal at the 12:17 mark. Evan Feno passed up the ice to Kyle Haak who buried the goal, the first allowed by Pikul in his career.
Brandon Denham sparked what seemed like a momentum change early in the second period, scoring a goal 1:29 into the frame off a pass by
David Friedmann. The goal was the fortieth of Denham's career, nineteenth of the season and Friedmann's assist was his nintieth career point.
The Colonials stayed within two goals for the remainder of the second period and long into the third. Air Force was held without a shot for just over fourteen minutes of the second period, but came out firing in the third. Pikul made a sprawling save of a two-on-none breakaway by Tyler Ledford and Matt Serratore. Pikul followed that up stopping a puck between his legs as a pile of players came crashing into the net. The sophomore netminder finished the night making 19 saves.
One puck Pikul wouldn't stop came from Evan Giesler who sniped a shot to put the Falcons back up by three and that score would hold through the finish.
The Colonials had six power play opportunities, recording ten of the team's 24 shots on goal on the man-advantage, but couldn't get an extra-attacked goal past Falcons goaltender Shane Starrett, including multiple attempts during the final 3:22 with the goaltender pulled.
RMU is 4-1-1 in the last six games against Air Force and 6-2-2 since 2013, the all-time series even at 14-14-2.
Robert Morris (19-9-4, 16-6-4 AHC) can clinch the Atlantic Hockey regular season championship with two points in any form next weekend. The race is extremely tight in the conference standings. Air Force (16-11-5,14-7-5 AHC) is tied for second, three points behind first place Robert Morris (36 points). RIT and Holy Cross each have 33 points as well. The Colonials wrap up the regular season visiting Canisius on Friday and return to Pittsburgh to complete the home and home, saluting the program's nine seniors at 84 Lumber Arena at 7:00pm.
Robert Morris University President Dr. Chris Howard made the trip to Colorado to cheer on the Colonials while visiting his alma mater, Air Force Academy.
