Pittsburgh, Pa. - A 37-save performance by senior goaltender Andrew Pikul was not enough as Robert Morris University men's hockey was swept with a 3-1 loss to Ohio State.

After battling for 41:34 of scoreless hockey, Buckeyes sophomore defenseman Matt Miller blasted a point shot past Pikul to put OSU ahead 1-0.

Robert Morris came back with a power play goal 7:51 into the third to tie the game at 1-1. Junior forward Alex Tonge chipped in the feed from junior forward Michael Louria, earning Tonge his second goal of the season. Senior forward Brady Ferguson earned the second assist on the goal, his team-high seventh point of the season.

With 7:17 left in the game, it appeared sophomore forward Luke Lynch had put RMU ahead 2-1. The puck went into the net as Lynch was pushed into the crease and OSU goaltender Sean Romeo. The call on the ice was a good goal but was overturned by the officials after a video review.

Ohio State capitalized on a broken play with 2:31 to play, Tanner Laczynski cashing in on a goal off a feed from Janik Moser to give the Buckeyes a 2-1 advantage. Laczynski chipped in an empty-net goal with seven seconds remaining to reach the final score of 3-1.

Senior defenseman Robert Powers had several solid offensive chances, hitting a post in the first period (later reviewed to confirm no goal), and collecting two big shots on a Colonials power play in the second stanza.

Pikul's highlight-reel game included a big-time save on a breakaway by Matthew Weis with 9:43 to play in the second. The senior from Cleveland, Ohio stopped seven shots by Ohio State on its four power play opportunities. The 37-save performance by Pikul is one save shy of a career-high set on December 17, 2016 against Mercyhurst.

The Colonials penalty kill was a perfect 4-for-4 and Robert Morris blocked a total of 17 shots, 11 of those coming in the second period including several during OSU's three power plays. Senior captain and defenseman Alex Bontje made four blocks, while fellow defensemen senior Elias Ghantous and sophomore Sean Giles also posted three blocks apiece.

"We're really close," said Pikul after the game. "You look at last night and we're right in the game all the way up until the third period and even at the end of the third period. We were in the game all night tonight. I think we just tighten up a couple things and we'll be really good."

The sweep by Ohio State marks the end of an impressive run by the Colonials. Robert Morris had not been swept by an opponent since a series at Bentley on December 6-7, 2013, a span of 150 games played. The Colonials last sweep by a non-conference opponent came in the home-and-home series with Ohio State on October 25-26, 2013. Both of those sweeps came in the early portion of the 2013-14 season, one that ended with the team's first Atlantic Hockey tournament championship and trip to the NCAA tournament. The last home sweep was more than seven-and-a-half years ago, against Lake Superior State on January 2-3, 2010. None of the current Colonials had ever been swept in their college careers at RMU.

Robert Morris (2-5-0, 2-3-0 AHC) returns to Atlantic Hockey conference play against Holy Cross on November 6-7, both 7:05pm home games at Colonials Arena. Purchase tickets by calling 412-397-4949 or visit RMUtickets.com



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