PITTSBURGH, Pa. - The Robert Morris University men's hockey team edged RIT 3-1 Saturday night at Clearview Arena to improve to 7-3 (5-1 AHA) on the year.
Randy Hernandez scored the go-ahead goal with just over ten minutes remaining in the third to help seal the win for the Colonials.
After a lackluster start in the first against Niagara Thursday, the Colonials came out skating hard to start Saturday's game in Moon Township.
Despite a 12-6 disadvantage in shots on goal, RMU did well to generate some quality looks and eventually cashed in midway through the first courtesy of leading goal scorer Jordan Timmons.
The junior picked up a pass near the offensive blue line before protecting it on a drive behind the RIT net, shielding off a defender in the corner before sliding it into a wide open cage to make it 1-0 on his eighth goal of the season.
The Bridgeville, Pa. native nearly helped make it 2-0 two shifts later after he broke in on a 2-on-1 with Brendon Michaelian, however the blue liner tipped his backhand feed just wide of the net.
RIT evened things up just past the midway mark of the game in the second, converting on their second power-play chance of the evening after Jake Jaffe swiped home a pass in the crease past an outstretched West to even things at 1-1.
Santeri Hartikainen nearly restored the RMU on the man-advantage in the dying second of the second, however his one-time blast from the left circle glanced off the iron and out.
The Colonials continued undaunted as the third opened up, hunting the go-ahead goal as both squads ramped up the physicality.
With the possibility of overtime drawing nearer, Hernandez pulled out what is becoming a habit for late-game heroics in his still young RMU career.
Following a re-group behind the RMU net, the Miami native collected the puck near his own blue line before blowing past an RIT defender in the neutral zone en route to the net where he buried a quick backhander blocker side to put RMU back up.
The Colonials held on for what would end up being the third game-winning goal for Hernandez this season.
SCORING PLAYS
Timmons, 8:40, 1st - Assists: Addamo, Hebert
Joffe, 10:52, 2nd, - Assists: Bruce, Dupuis
Hernandez, 9:51, 3rd - Assists: Prkusic, Love
Prkusic, 19:32, 3rd - Assists: Jenny
QUICK HITS
Timmons scored his team-leading eighth goal…Hernandez scored his third game-winner of the year…Colonials improve to 6-2 when scoring first this season…first regulation win vs. Tigers since 10/26/18
QUOTABLES
"I thought we were tired going into the third, and they proved me wrong. We found a way to win, and I thought the third period might have been our best. We came out really strong and were really good in the neutral zone and very disciplined." - head coach Derek Schooley
"The coaches are trusting me playing on the first line with two really good players, so I'm just lucky enough to play with those two guys. I try to just play my game, I like to play with speed and try to make the right play when it's there and take what comes to me." - Randy Hernandez
NEXT UP
RMU has a quick turnaround when they host RIT again tomorrow at 4:00 p.m. at Clearview Arena.
