MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. – The RMU men's hockey team scored three goals in the final five minutes, including two just 32 seconds apart, to rally past Mercyhurst, 5-3, Friday night at Clearview Arena. With the win, the Colonials improved to 12-18-3 overall and 12-11-2 in Atlantic Hockey America play and have now gone 8-3-1 over their last 12 games.
 
FIRST PERIOD
The Colonials struck first midway through the opening period. Connor Gourley found Patrick Johnson in the slot, where Johnson fired a snap shot past the Mercyhurst netminder to give RMU a 1-0 lead.
 
Mercyhurst responded later in the period when Brendan Lamb capitalized off a fortunate bounce to even the score at 1-1.
 
RMU controlled play throughout the opening frame, outshooting the Lakers, 16-5, in the first 20 minutes.
 
SECOND PERIOD
The Lakers wasted no time taking their first lead of the night, scoring just 29 seconds into the second period as Ryan Coughlin found the back of the net to make it 2-1.
 
The Colonials answered shortly after. During a scramble in front of the crease, Julian Beaumont chipped the puck across the goal line off assists from Michael Felsing and John Babcock to tie the contest 2-2.
 
RMU continued to dominate possession in the middle frame, holding a commanding 24-8 advantage in shots during the period.
 
THIRD PERIOD
RMU maintained offensive pressure throughout the third period but fell behind at the midway point when Dominik Bartecko wristed home a shot to give Mercyhurst a 3-2 lead.
 
The Colonials' comeback began with just five minutes remaining. From the blue line, John Babcock blasted a slap shot past the goaltender to tie the game at 3-3. Beaumont and Trent Wilson each recorded assists on the equalizer.
 
Momentum stayed firmly on RMU's side. Just 32 seconds later, Bruce McDonald fed Luke van Why skating into the offensive zone, and van Why fired home the go-ahead goal to give the Colonials a 4-3 lead. George Krotiris added the secondary assist.
 
Mercyhurst pulled its goaltender in the final minute in search of the equalizer, but Trent Wilson sealed the victory with an empty-net goal off assists from Michael Craig and Johnson, securing the 5-3 win.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• RMU generated a season-high 63 shots on goal compared to Mercyhurst's 21. John Babcock, Tanner Klimpke and Dominic Elliott each led the Colonials with seven shots.
• Eleven different Colonials finished with a positive plus/minus rating, led by Braden Rourke's +3 performance.
• RMU also dominated in the faceoff circle, winning 47 of 71 draws (66.2%). Cameron Garvey led the way, winning 21 of 26 faceoffs for an 80.8% success rate.
• Defensively, Greg Japchen recorded a team-high three blocked shots.
• Neither team converted on the power play, as RMU finished 0-for-3 and Mercyhurst went 0-for-2.
• Charlie Schenkel earned his seventh win of the season, making 18 saves.

 
MULTIPOINT EFFORTS
Five Colonials recorded multipoint performances in the victory. Babcock, van Why, Beaumont, Johnson and Wilson each tallied one goal and one assist.
 
The performance marked Babcock's first career multipoint game. Van Why also recorded his first career multipoint effort and netted his first career game-winning goal. Beaumont continued his recent offensive surge, recording his second multipoint effort and now totaling four points (2G, 2A) in his last four games. Johnson recorded his second two-point performance of the season, while Wilson registered the fifth multipoint game of his career.
 
PLAYOFF OUTLOOK
Following Friday's results around Atlantic Hockey America, RMU remains in fourth place with 42 conference points. The Colonials hold tiebreakers over Holy Cross, Canisius and Air Force. RMU can finish as high as third place or as low as fifth place in the final standings.
 
A regulation win Saturday would secure home ice for a best-of-three AHA Quarterfinal playoff series at Clearview Arena, scheduled for March 6-8.
 
UP NEXT
RMU will travel to Erie, Pa., on Saturday, February 28, to complete the regular season series against Mercyhurst. Puck drop is scheduled for 5:00 PM at the Mercyhurst Ice Center.
 
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