PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A five-goal third period helped the Robert Morris Colonials men's hockey team erase a 1-0 deficit to earn a 5-2 victory in their first game of the 2021 season Saturday night at Colonials Arena.

RMU put up a dominant 43-13 advantage in shots on goal en route to the victory. 

The Colonials came out hard in the first, establishing the forecheck with a heavy physical presence, unfortunately, that physicality ended up working against them.  

Justin Addamo was booked for roughing just 1:06 into the game, and the Chargers made them pay after Bauer Nedecker collected a loose puck and pushed it past Lubbesmeyer to take an early 1-0 lead. 

A five-minute major on Darcy Walsh shortly thereafter kept the Colonials on the kill, but they managed to avoid further damage. 

Finally settling into a rhythm offensively near the end of the first, RMU picked up a five minute man-advantage of their own and began to go to work. 

They continued to work the power play well into the second but could not convert. Randy Hernandez nearly tied things up with a nice look in the high slot but a bouncing puck prevented the freshman from getting a clean shot off. 

Despite a 20-10 advantage in shots on goal through 40 minutes, Huntsville goalie David Fessenden stood tall in net for the Chargers to keep RMU from tying things up. 

A huge stop by Dyllan Lubbesmeyer at the other end on a 2-on-1 rush kept the deficit at one as RMU entered the final frame. 

That's how you stay with the play! #RMUnite pic.twitter.com/HiXneiMoLT

— RMU Men's Hockey (@RMUMHockey) November 22, 2020

After another furious push, RMU finally hit pay dirt after Jordan Timmons corralled a loose puck near the side of the net and flipped it across his body into an open net to finally pull RMU even at one. 

From there, the floodgates seemed to open as RMU scored a number of goals in quick succession.

What a dish from Prkusic as Jenny walks right down the slot to make it 2-1! Hartikainen also picks up a helper. #RMUnite pic.twitter.com/yOaJQfJfOf

— RMU Men's Hockey (@RMUMHockey) November 22, 2020

Nick Jenny put RMU ahead 2-1 with a perfectly placed shot just before their power play expired before Grant Hebert crashed the net and picked up his first of the year to make it a two-goal lead. 

Go to the net and good things will happen. #RMUnite pic.twitter.com/63rltehroe

— RMU Men's Hockey (@RMUMHockey) November 22, 2020

A fourth tally from Lalonde and another beautiful breakaway goal from Timmons to end his superb debut secured the win for RMU. 

Timmons x2! The junior finishes a breakaway with a beautiful move! 5-2! pic.twitter.com/oQ0S0vVlXq

— RMU Men's Hockey (@RMUMHockey) November 22, 2020

SCORING SUMMARY

Bauer Nedecker, 2:52 1st (PP) - 

Jordan Timmons, 2:48 3rd - Head, Stonnell

Nick Jenny, 6:00, 3rd (PP) - Prkusic, Hartikainen

Grant Hebert, 7:53, 3rd - Timmons, Head

Nick Lalonde, 14:37, 3rd - Gulash, 

Tyr Thompson, 16:23, 3rd - Bronte

Jordan Timmons (2), 16:31, 3rd 

QUOTABLES

"I thought we got better as the game went on, minute by minute, shift by shift, period by period.  I couldn't be more ecstatic about what we achieved today. Obviously having to kill the first seven minutes of the game was a challenge, but once we got past that I thought we settled in." - head coach Derek Schooley

NOTES

Four Colonials made their NCAA debuts Saturday, with Randy Hernandez, Gavin Gulash, Kyler Head, and Brian Kramer each taking the ice for the first time…Jordan Timmons opened the scoring with his first NCAA goal and also added another goal plus an assist…Nine Colonials recorded at least one point…Nick Jenny led RMU with 12 shots on goal…Gulash and Head each recorded their first NCAA point as well

UP NEXT 

The Colonials and Chargers are back at it again tomorrow afternoon for the second and final game of the series starting at 4:05 PM at Clearview Arena.