Robert Morris scored the first two goals of the game and never trailed in a 5-2 win over Air Force, Friday, Feb. 3, at the Island Sports Center in Moon Township, Penn. Air Force lost despite outshooting the Colonials, 41-21, in the game.
AFA fell to 5-15-1 overall and 3-8-0 in the CHA. Robert Morris improved to 7-15-2 and 3-7-1 in the CHA. With the win, RMU jumped ahead of Air Force in the league standings by one point. Air Force suffered its first-ever loss at RMU as the Falcons swept the series last season.
Robert Morris scored first as Chris Margott notched his seventh of the season from Kurt Wright and Greg Petersen just 2:14 into the first period. Margott took a shot from the left faceoff circle that bounced through traffic and past Falcon goalie Peter Foster.
With just over five minutes remaining in the first period, the Colonials took a 2-0 lead. On a rush up ice, RMU took the puck behind the Falcon net and Jason Townsley made a pass to the front of the net. Wright put it away for his eighth of the season. Air Force outshot RMU, 14-8, in the first period.
Air Force got within one goal in the first minute of the second period. After winning a faceoff in the neutral zone, the Falcons took the puck right to the net. Michael Mayra’s shot was saved, but Matt Bader put back the rebound just 52 seconds into the period. Air Force dominated the first 10 minutes of the period, outshooting the Colonials, 10-1, with all the shots coming from in close.
However, the Falcons were on the penalty kill for six of the final 10 minutes of the period. RMU extended its lead to 4-1 with two goals in the final six minutes of the period with both goals coming at even-strength. RMU’s third goal came at the 14:00 mark. Townsley made a pass up the boards to the point and Joel Gasper’s slap shot beat Foster to the far post.
With just 50 seconds left in the period, Gasper scored his second of the period and his fourth of the season. Sean Berkstresser made a pass from the corner to the front of the net and Gasper gave the Colonials a 4-1 lead. AFA held a 28-16 shot advantage after two periods but trailed by three goals.
Air Force cut the RMU lead to 4-2 just 44 seconds into the third period. On a rush up ice, Andrew Ramsey took a shot that was saved, but it pulled goaltender Christian Boucher out of the net. Mike Phillipich collected the rebound at the top of the crease and slid it into the open net. Air Force continued to pressure the Colonials, but could not get one past Boucher. With 3:14 remaining in the third period, AFA pulled Foster from the net in favor of an extra skater. The Colonials put the game away with an empty-net goal by Berkstresser from the far blue line with 2:11 remaining.
Air Force outshot RMU in every period and had a 41-21 advantage in the game. Both teams were 0-for-4 on the power play. Boucher made 39 saves in the game for the Colonials while Foster made 16 for the Falcons.
Air Force and Robert Morris conclude the two-game series Saturday, Feb. 4, at 7:35 p.m. EST in Moon Township, Penn.
