Pittsburgh, Pa. - A five-goal third period led to a series-opening win for Robert Morris University men's hockey. The Colonials take game one of the Atlantic Hockey quarterfinal series against Holy Cross with a 6-3 victory at 84 Lumber Arena. 

Sophomore forward Alex Tonge scored a pair of goals, the game-tying goal in the second period and the fourth goal of the third period, helping RMU secure the win. Tonge's first goal of the game came on the man advantage, his 11th power play goal of the year, setting a new RMU single-season record previously held by Chris Margott (10, 2008-09 season).

After winning the opening ten faceoffs, the Colonials were held scoreless in the first period taking limited shots. That's in part due to eight blocked shots by the Crusaders in a first period that looked the part of both teams coming off a bye week. Holy Cross did escape the first period with the lead on a power play tip in by Mike Barrett with 2:25 to play in the opening frame. 

Just two minutes after a point blank save by Francis Marotte on a penalty kill midway through the second, Tonge tied the game on the power play with Daniel Leavens and Eric Israel earning assists. Not long after the game-tying goal, junior Spencer Dorowicz raced up the ice on shorthanded breakaway and was stoned by Crusaders goaltender Paul Berrafato.

Dorowicz would not be denied, earning an even strength tally just a minute and fifty seconds into the third period, off assists by Timmy Moore and Elias Ghantous. Less than a minute later, junior defenseman Alex Bontje blocked a shot during a Colonials penalty kill that ricocheted out to Brady Ferguson who swatted it past a Crusaders player and raced up the ice to bury his fourth shorthanded goal of the season, tying an NCAA-best mark. 

Freshman forward Daniel Mantenuto scored less than four minutes later for his third goal of the season. Senior defenseman Rob Mann put the puck on net before Luke Lynch swatted it towards the goal and Mantenuto buried the rebound for the eventual game-winning goal, the first of his career. 



The Colonials weren't done yet. Tonge scored his second goal of the game three minutes and 25 seconds later, with assists by Mantenuto and Leavens, giving the Colonials a 5-1 lead. A shorthanded goal brought the Crusaders back within three but they'd get no closer. Sophomore Kyle Horsman buried his second goal of the season with senior Ben Robillard and junior Alex Dagnal earning assists. Holy Cross deflected a puck in with 2:06 remaining but to no avail, as the Colonials finished off the 6-3 win to take game one of the series. 

All-Rookie team selection Francis Marotte made 16 saves en route to his 15th win of the season (15-7-2), tying him for third most wins at RMU in a single season (Dalton Izyk, 15-5-0 in 2014-15, Christian Boucher, 15-11-3 in 2007-08).

Along with assists, Mann blocked four shots and Ghantous blocked three, both helping the Colonials go 4-for-5 on the penalty kill. Robert Morris led shots on goal 27-19 and was dominant in the faceoff circle with a 37-24 advantage.

Robert Morris (20-11-4) reached the 20-win mark for the fourth time in the last five seasons, and the senior class picked up its 87th victory, tying the class of 2016's mark as the winningest class in program history.

The Colonials and Holy Cross will face off for game two of the best of three series on Saturday night with a 7:05pm puck drop.

SATURDAY'S GAME
LIVE STATS  |  LIVE VIDEO  |  RADIO ONLINE or ESPN Pittsburgh 970 AM
* NOTE: A new pass for the Atlantic Hockey games on Stretch (Live Video) must be purchased. A pass for any single day is available for $12, while the entire Atlantic Hockey Tournament is covered for $39.


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