ERIE, Pa. - The Robert Morris University men's ice hockey team fell 2-1 Friday evening against Mercyhurst University at the Mercyhurst Ice Center, pushing their record to 8-10-3 overall and 8-6-3 in Atlantic Hockey play.

Despite once again winning the shot battle, 37-28, Justin Addamo scored the lone tally on the night for RMU on the power play, his fourth of the season. Goaltender Justin Kapelmaster stopped 26 of 28 shots in net for the Colonials.

The loss was RMU's first at the hands of Mercyhurst since the 2018 campaign.

"When you don't capitalize on a 5-on-3, it ends up biting you," head coach Derek Schooley said.  "We didn't capitalize on one on Tuesday, but we found a way to get the job done. Tonight, we had opportunities and we didn't capitalize, which is a big turning point and momentum swing in the game."

Robert Morris found themselves in a familiar situation early in the game Friday, up a man on the power play and threatening to take an early lead, however keeper Garrett Metcalf and the Mercyhurst PK unit proved up to the task, limiting RMU to just one shot attempt on the man advantage.

RMU continued to pepper Metcalf as the power play expired, however chances from Daniel Mantenuto and Brendon Michaelian just missed their mark.

Soon it was Mercyhurst threatening on the power play after Nick Prkusic was called for a slash.   Despite a flurry of chances in quick succession, Kapelmaster stood tall and RMU's third-ranked PK unit got the job done, killing off the chance thanks to a few big blocks from Sean Giles and Nolan Schaeffer.

"It's about the will to find a way to score that goal," Schooley said.  "Whether it is five on five, five on four, or five on three, whatever scenario, we've got to have the will and the determination to capitalize on our chances."

Despite a scoreless first period, Mercyhurst finally managed to break through just over a minute into the second as Paul Faust cracked Kapelmaster for his first of the season on a hard wrister from the left circle that beat the netminder high glove side.

Though RMU continued to make life hard on Metcalf, responding to the opening goal with a number of chances in quick succession, however they could not solve the Laker keeper.

Mercyhurst would double its lead to 2-0 minutes later courtesy of a Jonathan Bendorf wrister from the high slot.

Metcalf's performance in net continued to be a huge theme on the night, as the senior goalkeeper stood on his head again and again to prevent what looked to be sure goals for the Colonials. His 36-save performance tied him for his second most saves in a game this season.

For the second straight game, RMU found itself with a two man advantage in a key moment of the game, and for the second straight game the Colonials could not convert, peppering the Laker net with chances midway through the second, however none found their mark.

While Addamo finally managed to solve Metclaf on the power-play midway through the third, it would not be enough.  A furious finish nearly tied the game up in the dying moments, but Nick Jenny was stopped twice on the doorstep before the comeback could be completed.

For Mercyhurst, it marks their first win in their last 11 games, pushing their overall record to 5-15-1 and 3-11-1 in Atlantic Hockey play.  The victory was also their first in regulation since taking down Arizona State 3-2 the first game of the season back on October 5th.

The two squads will face off one more time this weekend, traveling back to Pittsburgh for the rubber match Saturday evening at Colonials Arena at 7:05 p.m.

"We've had opportunities, and we've had a lot of pucks on net, but we've got to find the will and determination to finish those chances," Schooley said.  "I think the process was there, but our execution on creating those scoring chances needs to be improved."