PITTSBURGH, Pa. - The Robert Morris University men's hockey team improved to 2-0 on the season Sunday evening at Colonials Arena with a 4-3 win over Alabama-Huntsville to complete the two-game sweep.
RMU erased a second period deficit with two consecutive power-play goals to eventually earn the victory and stay perfect on the new season.
The Colonials picked up right where they left off after a five-goal barrage in the third period of game one Saturday night, setting the tone with a goal on the opening shift Sunday thanks to a nifty Nick Prkusic redirection of Nick Jenny's blast from the right point.
With the early lead secure, the Colonials continued to establish their forecheck and push the pace, nearly doubling the score at the ten-minute mark after a slick steal from Randy Hernandez near the cage, however the freshman missed just high on the shot.
Huntsville would even things up minutes later after Bauer Neudecker potted his second of the series on just their fourth shot on goal.
Hernandez almost put RMU ahead again minutes into the second frame but his effort from in tight glanced off the post and stayed out, another close call for the rookie.
A Nolan Schaeffer boarding call put the UAH power-play unit on the ice at 5:41, and less than a minute later they converted after a bouncing puck deflected high over Cooper's shoulder and into the back of the net.
The momentum continued to swing, with both teams trading power plays throughout much of the second frame.
Aidan Spellacy pulled RMU even with a beautiful individual effort, picking off a pass in the defensive zone and going coast to coast before roofing one high over UAH net minder Derek Krall.
An unfortunate turnover at the RMU net-mouth led to Huntsville re-taking the lead on a broken play, however the Colonials power play struck back, evening things up at three a piece after a rocket of a shot from Hartikainen from the top of the left circle.
Hernandez finally got the monkey off his back late in the third, crashing the net and poking home a loose puck under the pads of Krall for his first career NCAA goal, the eventual game-winner.
RMU survived one final penalty kill with under four minutes to play to come away victorious.
SCORING SUMMARY
Nick Prkusic, 00:21 1st (ES) - Assists: Jenny, Hartikainen
Bauer Nedecker, 11:24 1st (ES) - Assists: Bronte, Thompson
Dayne Finnison, 6:22 2nd (PP) - Assists: Bahn, Bronte
Aidan Spellacy, 13:32 2nd (ES) -
Tyr Thompson, 18:39 2nd (ES)
Santeri Hartikainen, 19:23 2nd (PP) - Assists: Prkusic, Addamo
(GW) Randy Hernandez, 12:49 3rd (ES) - Assists: Addamo, Prkusic
QUOTABLES
"We found a way to get the job done tonight. Wins are hard to come by, and to go 2-0 on a weekend is special for us to start this year. There were a lot of people put in different situations, and for us to gut it out with two power-play goals to tie it and eventually win is big. I really liked our effort and our compete level." - Head Coach Derek Schooley
NOTES
Prkusic, Jenny, and Hartikainen all extended their point streaks to two games…Prkusic finished with three points (1G, 2A)…David Lafrance made his NCAA debut Saturday and registered one shot on goal…Randy Hernandez scored his first NCAA goal, the game winner…RMU went 2-5 on the power play including the game-winning and tying goal…Reid Cooper earned his first win of the season in goal...RMU starts the year 2-0 for the first time since the 2015-16 season.
UP NEXT
The Colonials kick off Atlantic Hockey Competition next weekend when they host Canisius for a pair of home games at Colonials Arena Friday and Saturday evening.
