Against Atlantic Hockey Association foe Army West Point, the Robert Morris University men's hockey team took a while to find its footing, but finished strong enough to earn a 2-2 tie on home ice.

Just like last Friday's season-opening win against Bowling Green, Alex Tonge netted the key final goal, scoring off a slick cross-rink pass from Luke Lynch to capitalize on a five-minute power play. Tonge's goal game him 102 points for his career, putting him just outside RMU's all-time top 10 scorers and insuring RMU wouldn't come up empty in its conference opener.

The Colonials played their best hockey in the clutch, but the general sentiment after the final buzzer was regretful about letting an aggressive Army team dictate terms to start the weekend.

"I was encouraged by our 25 minutes to end the game, but I was discouraged by our first 40 minutes," head coach Derek Schooley said. "I didn't think we had a lot of energy and jam coming out of the gates, especially after that's all we've been preaching all week."

The Colonials (1-1-1) entered their first AHA series of the season coming off a curious split against now-No. 17 Bowling Green. RMU put in the necessary sweat in a thrilling one-goal win on the Island a week ago, but then didn't have much going for it in the road rematch Sunday in northwest Ohio.

Friday's collision with Army featured some from Column A and a little from Column B, so the way the night finished made sense, even if it didn't satisfy many in the home dressing room.

"We definitely didn't match their compete level for the first half of the game," said junior alternate captain Luke Lynch. "It's definitely not our identity as a program. It's something we touched on in the locker room and took care of in the third period. We gotta take care of that … 60 minutes every night."
 

As is often the case, the story of the game could be told on special teams. While the Colonials' power play did cash in for the equalizer, it also looked disheveled early in allowing Tipper Higgins to score the go-ahead goal. Then again, the RMU penalty kill was critical to splitting the decision Friday night, going 5 for 5 against an Army power play that went 5 for 16 in its first three games.

"Our power play was timely, but it's gotta be better," Schooley said. "Our penalty kill was outstanding."

Making his third start in as many games, junior goalie Francis Marotte stopped 26 of 28 shots. He wasn't asked to make as many outstanding saves as he did last weekend, though. In fact, with a few early Army rush chances excepted, the Colonials did well to protect the middle of the ice.

However, RMU struggled on the attack until late. The Colonials managed just three shots on target in the second before outshooting Army (1-2-1) by a 14-6 count in the third period and overtime.

"Look at our third period," Schooley said. "We picked it up five on five. We came out with some enthusiasm. I think at any level, in any sport, if you don't come to work, you're probably gonna lose. We're lucky we came to work for 25 minutes and got a tie out of it. Take nothing away from Army. I thought they put us on our heels. We had to find a way to match their level, and then we surpassed it in the third."

Ironically, Robert Morris jumped on top early courtesy of the latest offensive display from winger Justin Addamo.

The 6-foot-6 French-born freshman picked off a pass near the Army blue line and circled the goal, following the rebound of his wraparound to beat Army goalie Trevin Kozlowski at 6:37 of the first period. Addamo's first NCAA score gave him a team-best three points at that moment.

"I beat the 'D' wide, chipping the puck," Addamo described. "I ended up on the same line as the 'D,' so I went around because I saw the goalie going too far (to the near post). I'm really happy about it. Happy to contribute to the team in a positive way."

However, Army took command of the game later in the frame, striking twice to leap on top after 20 minutes. The first of those goals came at even strength, when Trevor Fidler zoomed off the side boards, pulled up at the right circle and wired a wrister through Marotte at 8:25.

Six minutes later, the Cadets took their first lead with RMU on its first power play of the night. After a Colonials turnover, Higgins burst down the left side and — using teammate Eric Butte as a pass decoy — threw a shot between Marotte's legs from 25 feet out.

The difficulties piled up for the Colonials well into the second period, as they took three minor penalties in the first 11 minutes of the frame. But the game started to turn just after Fidler rang the post on the third Army power play in that sequence, when RMU captain Brandon Watt drew a tripping penalty to even things up.

Several effective attack-zone shifts followed for the Colonials, concluding in a major penalty issued to Army's first-line center Michael Wilson at 18:55. Officials used video replay to upgrade a minor charging call to a major and a game misconduct for head contact against RMU defenseman Nick Jenny, who had to adjourn to the dressing room for repairs to his face.

"It was a really physical game," said Addamo, who tied for the team lead with three shots on goal.

The Colonials couldn't score before the end of the second, but the top power-play unit came through with the drop of the puck in the third. Just 1:15 into the period, after a handful of close calls around the Army net, Tonge flagged down a quick-look dish from Lynch and gunned the tying goal to Kozlowski's blocker side.

"Coming out with clean ice is a plus," Lynch said. "We made a couple crisp passes, and one thing led to another. We broke a couple of seams in their penalty kill. Tonge found a great spot and put it in."

The rest of the third was an all-out battle for 200-feet, most of which was played five on five. Robert Morris started to churn out the offensive-zone time consistently, with Brandon Watt and Nick Jenny each generating good chances with a handful of minutes left.

But with 2:10 to go in regulation, freshman Geoff Lawson was sent to the box for holding, creating a moment of truth. Army never got a sniff on the ensuing power play, though. In fact, the Colonials had the best opportunity late, but Daniel Mantenuto couldn't beat Kozlowski from between the circles with five seconds left.

Overtime was as fast and furious as the third, there were only a couple of Grade-A looks. Tonge probably had the best, when he jumped on a rebound in the low slot and turned a low shot on net about midway through the five-minute sudden-death session.

"We started to get a little confident and putting pressure on their D, started really working them low and tiring them out," Lynch said. "That's what you've got to do at this level."

After a night that ended on a playoff-like note of intensity, Robert Morris and Army will attempt to settle the weekend series Saturday evening. Faceoff on the Island is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.