PITTSBURGH – A strong start was not enough for the Robert Morris men's hockey team to withstand an RIT onslaught, as the Tigers (12-15-2, 11-11-1) completed their Atlantic Hockey sweep of the Colonials (13-15-2, 12-10-2) with a 6-2 decision at the RMU Island Sports Center Saturday night.

Senior forward and Hobey Baker Award candidate Brady Ferguson grabbed a piece of program history in defeat, netting his 13th goal of the season to tie native son Luke Lynch for the team lead and, of greater significance, tie Luke's brother Zac Lynch '16, for the RMU career record with his 156th all-time point.

The Amarillo Bulls (NAHL) product and Penguins Development Camp invitee remains, by a wide margin, the NCAA's active career scoring leader.

Robert Morris took the lead just 3:32 into the contest when a shot from up high by Timmy Moore beat traffic for his 11th goal of the season. Robert Powers, initially credited with a deflection, and January Atlantic Hockey Player of the Month Alex Tonge picked up the assists.

RIT appeared to seize momentum when Chris McKay broke in and beat Francis Marotte with a shorthanded tally that tied the game with 11:06 left in the first. Just forty seconds later, however, Ferguson snuck a sharp-angle shot through the short side of Christian Short for a power play goal and a 2-1 RMU advantage.

Special teams would still prove a bugaboo for the Colonials. After Jake Hamacher pulled the Tigers even again with just over seven minutes left in the action-packed opening frame, a power play goal by Myles Powell, who set up McKay's shorty, gave the visitors a lead they would not surrender with just 1:30 to go until the ice cut.

A last-minute second-period goal by Gabe Valenzuela would chase Marotte, who finished his abbreviated night with 12 saves. Then Valenzuela greeted Andrew Pikul 3:36 into the third with his second of the night.

Pikul, who turned aside 16 RIT shots in just under 18 minutes of relief, would give way to Dylan Lubbesmeyer in the final two minutes of regulation, but not before Matt Abt provided the final margin at 10:12.

Robert Morris hosts Atlantic Hockey rival Mercyhurst, whom the Colonials swept Dec. 16-17, next Friday at 7:05 p.m. as part of a home-and-home.

The Colonials will make the trip up I-79 to conclude the series Saturday at the Mercyhurst Ice Center at 7:05.



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