PITTSBURGH, Pa. - The Robert Morris University men's hockey team dropped a matchup against RIT 4-1 at Colonials Arena Friday evening, bringing their overall record to 9-15-3 (9-9-3 AHA).
Nick Jenny scored the lone goal for RMU in his first game back to the lineup since January 18. Justin Kapelmaster made 22 saves in goal on the evening.
"We weren't good enough tonight," head coach Derek Schooley said. "We fix one thing and another one starts leaking. Tonight we fixed the special teams but five-on-five play wasn't good enough."Â
Despite some good energy and a physical start to the game, RMU continued its trend of early deficits, allowing RIT to strike first at 4:35.
Winger Shawn Cameron followed a dump-in hard to the net, crashing the crease and poking a loose puck past Kapelmaster for an early 1-0 lead just five minutes in. Despite a lengthy review for goaltender interference, the call was upheld to put RMU in an early hole.
RIT would give the Colonials a great opportunity to respond, spotting them three power-plays in the opening frame.
Nick Jenny showed little rust in his first game back from an extended absence, blasting a point shot through traffic that sailed wide. More chances in close from Aidan Spellacy and Jacob Coleman nearly beat Drackett, but the puck stayed out.
Unfortunately RMU's recent struggles on the man advantage continued in the first period against the Tigers Friday, as the PP unit managed to produce lots of good looks and zone time but no goals.
One final blast from Nick Prkusic as time expired in the first was blocked aside as RMU headed into the locker rooms down 1-0.
"We don't score enough. We get the chances, but then we don't score," Schooley said. "It's nice to say, 'Hey look, we've got all these shots', but we have to finish, and we're not finishing enough."Â
RMU searched for a response as the game drug on into the second despite a tight-checking defensive effort from the Tigers. Chances for Justin Addamo and Brendon Michaelian missed their mark, while Coleman ripped one hard from the slot that was swallowed up Drackett.
An RMU PK unit that has struggled recently came up with a big kill midway through the second after Cameron Hebert was whistled for a trip.
Big blocks by Nolan Schaeffer and Sean Giles as well as a big save on Alden Dupuis by Kapelmaster helped the Colonials kill off the minor without sustaining further damage.
Another big kill minutes later on a Jenny hook built up some momentum for the Colonials, however the Tigers would get another at evens with five minutes remaining after Cameron buried his second of the game, finishing off a hard cut to the net with a nice backhander over an outstretched Kapelmaster.
After going 18 consecutive power-plays without converting, the RMU man-advantage finally came through in a huge moment early in the third after a seeing-eye point shot from Jenny beat Drackett over the left shoulder to cut the RIT lead in half at 2-1.
Despite the boost, the Colonials would give it right back less than two minutes later after the Tigers made it 3-1 on a delayed penalty call.
A fourth goal by Dupuis put the Tigers ahead comfortably by three goals with just over 12 minutes to play, as they held on for the 4-1 win.
"Once you fix one thing, another leak springs. We've got to make sure we start fixing it all because we're down to our final seven games," Schooley said. Â
RMU drops to and returns to action tomorrow night when they host RIT for the rubber match at Colonials Arena at 7 p.m.
