Worcester, Mass. - Robert Morris University men's hockey fought back from an early 2-0 deficit, coming up just short of Holy Cross in a 4-3 loss Friday night at the Hart Center.

Junior forward Brady Ferguson led the Colonials offense with a goal and an assist, one of three two-point performers along with sophomore defenseman Eric Israel and sophomore forward Alex Tonge, who each tallied a pair of assists. Freshman forward Luke Lynch and junior forward Timmy Moore scored the other two goals for the Colonials, with junior forward Alex Dagnal earning an assist on Lynch's goal.

The Crusaders made quick work of the Colonials in the first period, scoring two goals in the first 1:09 of the game and closing the opening period with two goals in the final 1:05, taking a 4-1 advantage into the second.

Freshman goaltender Francis Marotte made six saves on ten shots in the opening twenty minutes and junior netminder Andrew Pikul replaced him to start the second. Pikul's appearance wouldn't last long as a Crusaders skater came crashing towards the net and Pikul exited the game after 3:49 with an apparent injury. Senior goaltender Dalton Izyk played the completion of the game, making every save, as the Colonials limited the Crusaders to just 13 shots over the final two periods.

After goals from Mike Barrett and Michael Laffin put the Crusaders up 2-0 just 1:09 into the game, RMU gained control as the period progressed. The Colonials were able to capitalize on playing well along the boards when Dagnal skated off the back wall and towards the circle to the right of Holy Cross netminder Paul Berrafato, tossing the shot towards the net where Lynch batted it into the goal. For Lynch, the goal marks his fifth of the season and for Dagnal, his first assist and second point. Israel nabbed the second assist on the play.
 

 
















But Robert Morris couldn't escape the period relatively undamaged. Danny Lopez continued his hot streak for the Crusaders with his 14th goal of the season at the 18:55 mark and on the power play. Ryan Ferrill added an even strength tally with 36 seconds remaining in the frame, and RMU faced a 4-1 deficit coming into the second.

The Colonials top line closed the gap to two 36 seconds into the second. Tonge and Israel set up Ferguson for the goal, his 15th of the season, to make it a 4-2 game. Just over five minutes later, the Robert Morris power play went to work and Timmy Moore scored his tenth goal of the season. Tonge dished the puck to Ferguson who launched the shot and Moore deflected it into the net past a screened Berrafato to cut the Crusaders lead to one.

Robert Morris outshot Holy Cross 35-23 including 23-13 over the final two periods, but couldn't find the equalizer. Berrafato made perhaps the save of the game with 8:45 remaining. Lynch skated up the right-hand side with linemates Brandon Watt and Spencer Dorowicz on the rush. Lynch passed through skaters to Watt who slipped the puck to Dorowicz who barely got the shot off before being hauled down. Berrafato made a terrific save to keep the Colonials from tying the game and kept the puck out of the net late as Robert Morris turned up the heat with the goalie pulled and an extra-attacker on to even things up during a Crusaders power play.



Both teams were 1-for-3 on the power play with RMU taking 7 of its 35 shots on the man advantage, while limiting the Crusaders to just three. The Colonials dominated the faceoff circle 42-27 with Ferguson winning 22 of 29 draws he faced. Dorowicz and Daniel Mantenuto each went 9-6 in the circle. Each team blocked a total of ten shots.

The Colonials remain in fourth place in the Atlantic Hockey standings with 22 points, behind Canisius and Air Force who are both tied for first with 26 points, and third-place Army West Point with 23. The top four teams have each played 19 games, as has Holy Cross who stays in sixth but is just two points back of RMU. Mercyhurst is fifth with 21 points but has played 21 games. RIT is tied with Holy Cross for sixth with 20 points in 20 games played.

Robert Morris (14-8-3, 10-7-2 AHC) and Holy Cross (10-9-6, 7-6-6 AHC) will face each other again Saturday night at 7:05pm at the Hart Center in Worcester, Mass. Live Stats and a Live Video Stream are available for the game and fans can follow the Colonials on social media for updates as well. Check back later for video highlights from Friday's game.


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