MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. – Led by Charlie Schenkel's program-record 60 saves, the Colonials defeated Air Force 5-2 to win the AHA Quarterfinal Round, 2-1. With the victory, RMU advances to the AHA Semifinal Round to face No. 2 Sacred Heart.
 
FIRST PERIOD
After both teams failed to capitalize on early power-play opportunities, the Colonials struck first in the 14th minute. From the defensive end, George Krotiris laid the puck off to Jackson Reineke. For the third straight game, Reineke recorded an assist as he set up Max Wattvil at the point for his first goal as a Colonial.
 
Moments later, Air Force appeared to tie the game when the puck was loose in the blue crease and Mason McCormick pushed it in. However, after a successful challenge, the goal was waved off due to goalie interference.
 
In a physical opening period, both teams finished 0-for-3 on the power play. The Falcons held an 11-8 edge in shots while the Colonials carried 2:51 of power-play time into the second period following a major penalty.
 
SECOND PERIOD
Air Force fired 27 shots on goal in the second period but were unable to solve goaltender Charlie Schenkel.
 
The Colonials stayed patient and opportunistic, scoring two goals on just six shots.
 
With five minutes remaining, shortly after RMU's extended power play ended, Ryan Taylor scored a crucial goal, sniping a wrist shot from the slot to push RMU ahead 2-0. Defensemen Dominic Elliott and Luke van Why both assisted on the play.
 
Just before the period ended, the Falcons skated in with a dangerous chance, but Julian Beaumont made a huge defensive play, blocking the shot. He then transitioned the other way and set up Michael Felsing at the back door, who buried the chance to make it 3-0 with just 11 seconds remaining in the period.
Trent Wilson earned the secondary assist.
 
THIRD PERIOD
Air Force pushed the pace even further in the third and finally broke through offensively.
 
Jake Peterson and Owen Dubois scored within a three-minute span to cut the deficit to one and put RMU on its heels.
 
However, moments later, Felsing delivered the dagger to restore the two-goal lead. After a strong individual effort, Felsing made a silky move around the netminder and tucked the puck home to make it 4-2. Patrick Johnson provided the assist on the play, winning a puck battle on the boards.
 
With five minutes remaining, Air Force pulled its goaltender with the season on the line. Following a crucial faceoff win by Cameron Garvey, Elliott moved the puck to John Babcock, who fired a long shot into the empty net to secure the 5-2 victory.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Air Force outshot RMU 62-17. Felsing led the Colonials with five shots.
• Felsing, Elliott and Beaumont each finished with a +3 rating.
• RMU won 40 of 69 faceoffs (57.9%), led by Garvey's team-high 14 wins.
• The Colonials blocked a season-high 40 shots. AHA blocked-shots leader Babcock led the team with eight.
• Neither team scored on the power play, as Air Force finished 0-for-5 and RMU went 0-for-4. The Falcons also had two players receive game misconducts.

 
MULTIPOINT EFFORTS
Pittsburgh native Michael Felsing scored his first career brace and was credited with the game-winning goal. He now owns seven multipoint efforts this season. Felsing has also found success against the Falcons in his career, recording six goals in eight games against Air Force.
 
Elliott contributed at both ends of the ice, finishing with two assists for his ninth multipoint effort of his career. He now owns six goals, 13 assists and 19 points on the year, matching the totals from his freshman campaign.
 
TOP PRODUCER
With another assist tonight, junior Jackson Reineke finished the AHA Quarterfinal series with five assists. His five points led the Colonials during the series.
 
In the 2025-26 season, Reineke has recorded 11 goals, 14 assists and 25 points.
 
PROGRAM RECORD
Freshman goaltender Charlie Schenkel delivered one of the best performances of his young career, stopping 60 shots to set a new RMU program record. He becomes the first Colonial netminder to record 60 saves in a game.
 
Starting all three games in the series, Schenkel posted a 1.75 goals-against average and a .959 save percentage. He now owns 10 wins in his freshman campaign along with a .915 save percentage.
 
BACK TO THE FINAL FOUR
This marks RMU's first appearance in the AHA Semifinals since the 2018-19 season, when the Colonials faced No. 19 AIC. RMU will now look to reach the AHA Championship game for the first time since the 2017-18 season.
 
UP NEXT
Now holding a 15-19-3 overall record, No. 3 RMU will travel to face No. 2 Sacred Heart in a best-of-three AHA Semifinal series scheduled for March 13-15 in Fairfield, Conn. Each game will stream live on FloHockey.
 
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