PITTSBURGH, Pa. – The Army West Point hockey team dropped a 4-2 game to Robert Morris Friday night after the Colonials struck quickly to go up 2-0 within the first three minutes of the contest.
ARMY HIGHLIGHTS AND GAME NOTES
The Black Knights fell to 2-1-0 on the year and 2-1-0 in Atlantic Hockey action, while Robert Morris improved to 2-2-0, 2-2-0 AHA.
Tipper Higgins netted his first of the season as Army’s first goal on the night. It was his sixth goal overall and was assisted by freshmen John Laurito and John Zimmerman.
Michael Wilson contributed the Black Knights’ second goal for his fifth point on the year and sixth goal of his career.
Wilson’s goal in the second period was assisted by Dominic Franco and Zimmerman.
Zimmerman finished with two points on the night, a career-high.
Cole Bruns made 32 saves in net and the team made 18 blocks. Nick DeCenzo and Mike Preston each recorded four blocks in the game.
The Black Knights outshot the Colonials 41-36. The last time Army had over 40 shots in a game was against Mercyhurst last March with 42 on the board.
HOW IT HAPPENED
PERIOD ONE (2-1 RMU)
Robert Morris started quickly in the series opener, capitalizing on a power play opportunity with a goal by Eric Israel 1:46 into the game.
The Colonials increased their lead just 52 seconds later when Luke Lynch found the back of the net.
Bruns shook the goals off quickly however and rebounded with a 17-save first period, including multiple loose puck situations in front of the net. Shortly after their second score, Robert Morris centered the puck from below the goal line and forced the Prairie Grove, Ill., native to come out and make a shoulder save. He later shut down Michael Louria who broke free down the right side on a breakaway.
The Black Knights were willing to give up the body to help out their net minder, blocking nine shots in the period.
Army started chipping away at the two-goal deficit with nine minutes remaining in the first period when Zimmerman fed Higgins a pass from the left point and he ripped a low shot inside the near post.
PERIOD TWO (4-2 RMU)
The Colonials once again scored with their special teams unit as they banked the puck off boards while killing a penalty and sent Brady Ferguson in on breakaway where he put the puck away in the top left corner.
Wilson wrapped around the right side of the goal with 13:24 on the clock as Francis Marotte overcompensated and left half of the net wide open. Wilson backhanded it past to make it 3-2 in favor of the Colonials.
Robert Morris’ persistence resulted in its fourth goal of the night as Luke Lynch scored on a second-chance opportunity when a rebound was sitting to the right of the goal with 3:26 remaining in the frame.
The Black Knights outshot Robert Morris in the second period, 13-11.
PERIOD THREE (4-2 RMU)
Army began the period with a 49-second man advantage where it got a pair of shots on net. The Black Knights again went on the man advantage seven minutes later in which they recorded another two shots from Franco and Soucie.
The Colonials went on two power plays in the final 10 minutes of play with Army killing off both chances.
Despite leading in shots 21-6 in the final frame, the Black Knights could not get past Robert Morris for a comeback.
TURNING POINT
The Colonials’ two-goal start to the game gave them the momentum they needed to pass Army.
UP NEXT
The Black Knights and Colonials return to action once again tomorrow night in Pittsburgh. The contest will begin at 7:05 p.m.
