PITTSBURGH -- Two promising trends came to an end Friday night for the Robert Morris University men's hockey team, as the Colonials dropped a 2-0 result to Air Force at the RMU Island Sports Center.

The defeat snapped a four-game overall winning streak for RMU, in addition to a five-game run in Atlantic Hockey conference play. The Colonials (7-5-0, 7-2-0 AHA) are still in a first-place tie atop the 11-team league, but they'll have to respond in Saturday night's rematch with the Falcons if they want to maintain that perch.

"The team that worked harder won that game," RMU head coach Derek Schooley said after his team's first loss in November. "From the first shift, we weren't dialed in. They took it to us. They played like a team that was hungry to prove itself. We played like a team content with where we are in the standings.

"We haven't had adversity in a while. We'll find out what we're made of in that locker room, because tonight wasn't good enough."

In a matchup of two teams entering on a roll -- Air Force has now won four in a row after losing its first seven -- the visitors were visibly sharper from first puck drop.

A 14-6 Falcons shot advantage in the first period included the first goal, netted by Trevor Stone at 9:27. Following a turnover in the neutral zone, Stone soared in on goal and tossed a forehand shot off the post and in behind Justin Kapelmaster.

Despite the loss, RMU's senior goalie was solid yet again, kicking out a pair of prime Air Force chances in the opening minutes as the Colonials tried to find their game. Kapelmaster stopped 34 of 36, holding his save percentage steady at an eye-popping .948 in his first 11 RMU starts.

"When you turn pucks over, you're not going to have much possession."

Coach @derekschooley talks decision-making, special teams and a needed response tomorrow night ... pic.twitter.com/CHDVsbYCQZ

— RMU Men's Hockey (@RMUMHockey) November 23, 2019

But Air Force (4-7-0, 4-3-0 AHA) squeezed in another goal nine minutes into the second, when an errant RMU pass through center ice combined with an ill-timed line change to give the Falcons' Max Harper a clear-cut breakaway from the blue line. Harper used a quick backhand deke to avoid Kapelmaster's poke check and stashed his fourth goal of the year, doubling the Falcons' lead.

Defense was a mixed bag for RMU, because even though the two Air Force goals were results of big mistakes, the Colonials also blocked 21 shots and denied all six Air Force power-play chances. The problem was the Colonials didn't have the puck enough, allowing the Falcons to dictate terms.

"When you turn the puck over, it's tough to get offense," Schooley said. "We didn't execute the way we wanted to. I don't know if it was something they were doing, but our effort certainly wasn't good enough."

Also, RMU came up empty on eight PP opportunities, concluding with a final-minute six-on-three look boosted by an extra attacker. The closest call in that final sequence went to junior co-captain and leading scorer Nick Prkusic, but his one-timer trickled through Falcons goalie Alex Schilling and off the post.

Prkusic and linemate Jacob Coleman had the Colonials' best scoring chances at even strength, but both men had their close-range shots rejected by Air Force defenders. Twenty of RMU's 47 shot attempts were blocked by Falcons skaters, helping Schilling record the 19-save shutout.

While Air Force spoiled the Colonials' chance to win eight of their first nine league games for the first time in team history, a series split can still be attained with a victory Saturday. The puck drops at 7:05 p.m. as Colonials Fight Hunger weekend continues; fans who donate five non-perishable food items at the door will receive $1 admission.