Box Score PITTSBURGH, Pa. - The Robert Morris University men's hockey team suffered its first loss of the season Friday night, falling 5-2 to Canisius at Clearview Arena.
Freshman goaltender Noah West made his NCAA debut in goal for the Colonials, making 41 saves on the evening.
Following an opening shift goal against Huntsville last weekend, Nick Prkusic nearly repeated the feat Friday evening against the Griffins, crashing the net and stuffing a lose puck behind keeper Jacob Barczewski 26 seconds in, however the play quickly whistled dead after the net came off its moorings.
It was the Griffins who would end up striking first, however, crashing the net and putting a loose puck past West to grab the early lead.
The Robert Morris power-play stayed hot, and two minutes later Nick Jenny pulled the Colonials level with his second power-play goal of the year to make it three straight games with a man-advantage goal for RMU.
West continued to stand tall in the second for RMU, facing a barrage or shots including a number in quick succession on a four-minute double minor to Brendon Michaelian.
Despite a number of ten-bell saves, a loose puck in the skates of the rookie eventually squeaked through after a chaotic scramble in the crease to give Canisius a 2-1 lead heading into the final frame.
Matt Long potted his second of the game just 1:10 into the third for the Griffins, doubling the lead with a rip from the top of the slot to help Canisius go up two. A fourth goal from Austin Alger blew things open for Canisius.
Darcy Walsh would get his first of the season to cut the deficit to 4-2 late but the Griffins would hold on for the 5-2
win.
SCORING SUMMARY
Long, 10:33 1st - Unassisted
Jenny, 11:49 1st (PP) - Assists: Addamo, Prkusic
Kouznetsov, 14:38 2nd - Assists: Meyer, Virtanen
Long (2), 1:10 3rd - Assists: Miotto
Alger, 9:49 3rd - Assists: Unassisted
Walsh, 11:15 3rd - Assists: Head
Mastrodonato, 18:42 3rd - Assists: Lambert, Barczewski
QUOTABLES
"I thought they outworked us. Give Canisius a lot of credit, I think they got what they deserved. I think they wanted it more, they were hungry, it was their first game and they were ready to go. They pushed the pace today on us." - Head Coach Derek Schooley
NOTES
Freshman goalie Noah West made his NCAA debut in goal, turning aside 41 shots…The Colonials converted on the power play for the third straight game…Nick Jenny scored his team-leading second PP goal…Darcy Walsh scored his first goal of the season...
UP NEXT
RMU takes on Canisius once again tomorrow afternoon at Clearview Arena in Moon Township at 4:05 p.m. in the final game of the weekend series.
