Pittsburgh, Pa. - The Robert Morris University men's ice hockey team saw a three-game win streak come to a close on Friday night at Colonials Arena. RIT claimed a 4-3 victory, staving off an RMU comeback effort that included two goals in the final ten and a half minutes of play.

Trailing 4-1 in the third period, senior forward Alex Dagnal took a pass from Luke Lynch and sniped the puck short side past RIT goaltender Christian Short to pull the Colonials within one with 10:35 to play. Eric Israel earned his second of three assists on the play.

Senior forward Timmy Moore made it a one-goal game with 5:21 to play. Israel fed the puck up ice to Alex Tonge, who found Moore on the backside where he chipped the puck past Short to cut the deficit to one.

Senior goaltender Andrew Pikul did not allow a goal and made 9 saves in relief of starter Francis Marotte, in 15:07 of ice time in the third period, including a glove grab on a Myles Powell wrister with 4:35 to play.

The night started in similar fashion to how it ended, with RMU lighting the lamp. Lynch opened the scoring for RMU with 3:13 remaining in the first. Senior defenseman Elias Ghantous won the puck away from RIT and knocked it ahead to his defensive partner Israel, who stretched it ahead to Lynch who skated in, going forehand then backhand and scoring five-hole to give the Colonials a 1-0 lead with his team-high 13th goal of the season.

RIT exploded for three goals in the second period to take a 3-1 advantage into the third. The Tigers tallies came from Gabe Valenzuela, Abbott Girduckis and Bryson Traptow. Jordan Peacock scored the eventual game-winner 2:46 into the third, ending the night for Marotte, who made 16 saves on 20 shots in 42:35.

All seven goals were scored at even strength.

Robert Morris looks to return to the win column on Saturday with a 7:05 p.m. start against RIT. The first 800 fans will receive an RMU puck. There will be a Skate with the Colonials following the game. Fans can bring their own skates, or skates are available to rent from the RMU Island Sports Center for $3.00



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