WORCESTER, Mass. - The Robert Morris University men's hockey team lost 5-3 Friday evening to Holy Cross University at Hart Arena. The loss pushes the Colonials to 19-16-4 (9-10-4-1 AHA).
Despite a valiant comeback effort, the Colonials could not dig themselves out of a 4-0 second period hole Friday night. Justin Addamo and Jacob Coleman each had two points, while freshman Garrett Clegg scored the first goal of his RMU career in the third period.
Sophomore goalie Reid Cooper made 21 saves in relief of Justin Kapelmaster, his first appearance in game action since October 6 against Michigan Tech.
"We didn't play well as a group," head coach Derek Schooley said. "I commend our guys for their effort to come back, we're beat up right now and we've got the flu going through us, but the result is still the same. It's a loss."Â
The Colonials were the better team early on Friday night in Worcester, establishing their forecheck off the hop with a number of shifts in the offensive zone. Quick transitions and some nice passing through the neutral zone helped RMU to jump out to an early 6-0 lead in shots on goal and prevent Holy Cross from getting into any sort of rhythm.
Quick chances from Justin Addamo and Roman Kraemer were swallowed up by Holy Cross keeper Matt Radomsky, as the freshmen net minder made several tough saves to prevent RMU from breaking through early.
Their first power opportunity of the evening yielded more chances for the Colonials, but no results. Two quick shots for Addamo were the best looks the man advantage produced, however the Crusaders were able to kill it off.
Despite the early pressure, Holy Cross escaped unscathed and soon mounted a counter-attack that would lead to results on the scoreboard.Â
They made it 1-0 on their tenth shot of the game after Patrick O'Leary walked into the zone down the right wing side and flicked a dart low blocker past Kapelmaster.
The Crusaders would make it 2-0 less than five minutes later after Conner Jean ripped a one-timer on the power play. Ryan Leibold made it 3-0 as a tough ending to the period got even worse for RMU after he picked up a loose puck in the neutral zone and walked in on Kapelmaster for the goal.
Another tough break was waiting for the Colonials in the second, as Addamo managed to make it 3-1 after swiping home a loose puck in the crease, but the play was reviewed and waved off after it was determined that RMU was offsides on the zone entry leading to the goal. Â
The Colonials went back to work, but the hits just kept on coming as the Crusaders pushed their lead to four five minutes into the second frame on Leibold's second goal.
Shortly after the Leibold tally, the game was delayed for approximately ten minutes after a piece of the dividing glass between the two penalty boxes shattered after a hit.
The Colonials used the unplanned rest to catch their breath and begin to try and dig themselves out of a deep hole. Addamo finally put them on the board towards the end of a five-on-three power play in a mirror of his previous goal that was disallowed.
A sprawling save from Matt Radomsky kept RMU from cutting it to 4-2, as the freshman keeper somehow managed to get a blade on an Aidan Spellacy chance in tight.
The Colonials continued to crash the net and make life tougher on Radomsky, returning to the trenches in an effort to chip away at the Holy Cross lead.
Another power play goal made it 4-2 with under a minute left in the frame as Coleman got a piece of a Brendon Michaelian point shot for a redirect goal.
"Our depth tonight was pretty good as far as scoring, but we've got to get better play up and down our lineup," Schooley said. "You can't take that much time off in a game. You have to have a push back."
Cooper showed little sign of rust despite playing in his first game since the second of the year against Michigan Tech back on October 6, being called upon several times to make timely saves and prevent the gap from widening again.
Four stops in quick succession off of a defensive zone draw kept the Colonials in it, as Cooper continued to backstop the comeback attempt into the final frame.
RMU returned to a successful formula as they searched for a third goal, continuing to go hard to the net in an effort to shake something loose. It proved a sound gameplay for the third time as Clegg fought off a check in front of Radomsky and stashed a loose puck in the back behind the goalie.
The freshman's first career tally pulled RMU to within a goal as they battled for the equalizer in what was now a race against the clock as well as the Crusaders.
Despite an enormous push at the end, the comeback ended at three as Holy Cross added an empty netter to make it 5-3 and seal the win.
"We have to be focused for 60 minutes," Schooley said. "From our goaltender, to our defenseman, to our forwards, we've got to be connected. If we're connected in the way we play then we'll be successful, but one aspect of our play every game has let us down."
The Colonials return to action tomorrow night at 7 p.m. when they face off against Holy Cross one last time in the 2020 regular season.
