TEMPE, Ariz. - Another late comeback effort fell short Saturday evening at Oceanside Ice Arena, as the Robert Morris University men's hockey team lost to Arizona State 5-4.

Nick Prkusic had two goals and added an assist on the evening.  Brendon Michaelian and Daniel Mantenuto also added goals, while Jacob Coleman posted three assists.

"We are playing so well five-on-five, but unfortunately all aspects of the game come in to play," head coach Derek Schooley said post game.  "It's a broken record the last four games, we've out-shot teams, we've out-played teams, we've outscored them five-on-five, but we can't kill penalties.  We've got to be better, but I really liked how we played.  I really commend our players for sticking through a lot of tough times." 

Discipline issues and a struggling penalty kill unit continued to contribute to slow starts for RMU, who put the ASU power-play on the ice just over a minute into the game after a post-whistle scrum resulted in both Sean Giles and Luke Lynch earning minors.

Johnny Walker cleaned up a rebound in front of the net to beat Dyllan Lubbesmeyer and end a four-game goal drought less than a minute later, the eighth power-play goal RMU had surrendered in its last 18 kills.

RMU would earn their looks as the period played on, nearly tying things up after a slick pass from Prkusic sprung Giles on a fast-break, however the blue liner put the effort high.

"I really believe our guys are playing good hockey right now," Schooley said.  "It's just one aspect of our game needs to be better, but we overcame a lot of adversity tonight." 

In a mirror of the first period of game one, it was the Colonials keeper facing the heavier workload in the opening frame, as Lubbesmeyer made a couple of tough saves including one on a mini breakaway from Jacob Semik to keep the deficit at one.

A series of late-period offensive-zone draws for ASU could have posed problems, however a pair of big faceoff wins from Darcy Walsh and Daniel Mantenuto helped RMU escape the period without further damage.

Strong responses have been a characteristic of the Colonials this season as much as slow starts, and RMU could not have drawn up a better start to the second frame Saturday night.

Mantenuto tied things up just 37 seconds off the opening faceoff, ripping a wrister high-glove on DeBrouwer to erase the early hole and pull RMU even at 1-1.

Just 20 seconds later Prkusic gave RMU its first lead of the series, following up a hard drive to the net by knocking in a loose puck on the doorstep past a sprawling DeBrouwer to make it 2-1.

"We had a lot of guys that had big coming-out weekends here," Schooley said.  "I thought the Lalonde-Mantenuto-Lynch line was good again, but Jake Coleman absolutely dominated down-low.  Prkusic was good down-low, and Darcy Walsh, who was promoted up mid-game to play with those two really stepped up in the absence of Grant Hebert." 

Despite generating significant momentum by the quick strikes, the Colonials PK nightmares would not end.  Successive minors to Roman Kraemer and Luke Lynch gave ASU over 1:20 of 5-on-3 time just five minutes after RMU clawed to its first lead of the night.

ASU would convert both chances to make it three for three on the man advantage and 3-2 midway through the second.

Two more goals over the span of three minutes broke the game open for the Sun Devils at 5-2.

Prkusic would get one back for Robert Morris to make it 5-3 with just over five minutes in the second, however the damage had already been done as RMU entered the third facing a multi-goal deficit yet again.

Another quick strike in the opening minute of the third put RMU back to within one courtesy of Michaelian.  The sophomore defenseman beat DeBrouwer 51 seconds in as RMU refused to go down without a fight.

RMU's first and only power play chance of the night came just minutes later, and while Michaelian and Nick Lalonde both had dangerous chances, neither managed to find the back of the net on the man advantage. 

"At the end of the day, as much as I was displeased at some of the calls, you have to find a way to kill penalties even if you don't agree with them," Schooley said.  

Though they forechecked relentlessly as they searched for the equalizer, nearly cashing in on a mad scramble in front of the net with six minutes to play, Justin Addamo could not settle a loose puck in front of the net.  

One final push with Lubbesmeyer pulled did not yield results and ASU held on for the 5-4 win.

RMU moves to 9-14-3 overall following the loss, and will return to action next weekend when they host AHA foe RIT for a pair at Colonials Arena on Friday and Saturday night.