Bowling Green, Ohio – The Robert Morris University men's hockey team took down Bowling Green on the road, winning, 3-0. RMU after this series is now 1-1-0 to begin the season. The Falcons are also 1-1-0 to start the year.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Heading out on the road for the first time this season, the Colonials picked up their momentum in the second and third period from last night's home opener, playing good hockey.
With only four shots in the first period in game one, RMU paced for nine shots through the first 16 minutes of the opening frame at Bowling Green.
After a shift that saw three shots on goal in a long offensive shift, the Colonials created their first goal of the 2023-24 campaign.
Wrapping around the right side of the Falcons defensive zone, forward
Gavin Gulash threw a puck on net. A rebound popped up to
Walter Zacher, jamming a shot near the crease, cashed in by freshman
Dominic Schimizzi to take a 1-0 lead.
For the last three and a half minutes of the period, RMU didn't allow a single shot on goal.
Looking to tie up the game, Bowling Green peppered a ton of shots in the beginning of the second period. Pittsburgh's own
Chad Veltri stood tall in net, making five saves early on in the middle frame.
About halfway through the period, the Falcons were called for a tripping penalty, giving RMU a power play opportunity. The Colonials took advantage and scored their first man-up goal of the season.
Captain
Rylee St. Onge running the right side of the special teams' unit, sauced a pass to
Cameron Hebert near the net. He redirected it towards the net, and freshman
McKay Hayes cleaned up the trash to make it, 2-0.
After 40 minutes, RMU remained with the lead, 2-0.
Bowling Green tried clawing back once again to start the third period. Owning possession in RMU's end for over a minute, Veltri made save after save, shutting down four shots in the opening minute.
The Colonials stayed out of penalty trouble and rode out the rest of the period, not giving up many quality chances for the home side.
Two and a half minutes remained and Bowling Green pulled their goalie for an extra attacker. Veltri made another save and defenseman
Mitch Andres laid the body down, blocking a shot.
With about a minute left and the net still empty, the Falcons shot the puck wide, getting scooped up by
Cade Townend. He passed it up to
Gavin Gulash going the other way, finding
Logan Ganie to pass it into the empty net.
After 60 minutes, the Colonials picked up their first victory of the 2023-24 campaign.
GRINDING IN GOAL
Making 73 total saves in the first series of the season, graduate goaltender
Chad Veltri made an immediate impact for RMU. The veteran netminder yesterday made 40 saves, six saves away from his highest save total for one game. Today, his 33 stops helped RMU's offense stay ahead. He earned his first win and shutout for the Colonials today and his seventh career shutout.
COLONIAL FIRSTS
Freshman
Dominic Schimizzi and
McKay Hayes both pounded in their first career goals against the Falcons. Scoring the first goal of the year for the team, Schimizzi's goal would also go down as the game-winner. Freshman
Walter Zacher also picked up his first career point with an assist on the game's first goal. Forward
Rylee St. Onge on the power play, produced his first point at RMU. His secondary assist on the second goal of the game would be his 60
th collegiate point. And, on the blue line,
Cade Townend marked down his first assist in a Colonial uniform. He now has 39 career points.
FROM 2021 TO 2023
Alternate captains
Gavin Gulash and
Cameron Hebert worked immensely hard over the past two years at RMU. They were rewarded for their leadership and effort, earning assists in the program's first victory of the year. Gulash is the first player in this season to put up a multi-point game, recording two assists. Hebert dished out one assist at Bowling Green, reaching 10 points now in his career.
QUOTABLE
"I am so happy for our players, staff, alumni and for the university. This was an outstanding weekend celebrating the return of RMU Hockey and to cap it off with a win is the cherry on top."
– Head Coach Derek Schooley
UP NEXT
After playing a non-conference series, the Colonials will start up AHA conference play next weekend, playing one game at Mercyhurst. RMU will travel up to Erie to play Mercyhurst on Saturday, October 14 at 4:00 p.m.
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