Men's Hockey | 2/8/2013 9:22:00 PM

Box Score

MOON TOWNSHIP, PA - The RIT men's hockey team (9-13-5, 7-9-4 AHA) was shutout for just the second time in 2012-13, falling to the Robert Morris Colonials (15-10-2, 10-9-1 AHA) by a score of 3-0 in front of 654 fans at 84 Lumber Arena on Friday evening. The Tigers remain tied for eighth in the AHA standings.

Robert Morris goaltender Eric Levine was strong in net, stopping all 34 shots he faced, including 16 over the first 20 minutes of play to record his fourth shutout of the season.

The Colonials scored once in the second period and two more times in the third period to pull away. Cody Wydo scored the eventual game-winner, while David Friedmann and Zach Hervato added third period goals. Hervato's goal was an empty-netter.

RIT's Jordan Ruby (Tavistock, Ontario/Wellington Dukes) was strong in goal, stopping 38-of-40 shots in defeat.

The Tigers, who entered tonight's game with the top-ranked power-play in all of Division I were 0-for-5 with the man-advantage. Robert Morris was 0-for-1, but that power-play was a five minute major late in the second period.

RIT played a strong road period, out-shooting Robert Morris 16-9, but the two teams headed to the locker room scoreless.

Alexander Kuqali (Pittsburgh, PA/Sioux City Musketeers) had a hard shot get through traffic just a few minutes in, but Levine made the save through traffic. Moments later, Brad McGowan (Langley, British Columbia/Surrey Eagles) came in and took a feed on a 2-on-1 from Matt Garbowsky (St. George, Ontario/Powell River Kings) and was robbed by Levine. Levine stopped McGowan once again in front in the final moments of the period.

Ruby's best save came midway through the period, as he robbed Adam Brace from the slot on a point-blank chance.

The Colonials dominated RIT in the second period, outshooting the Tigers 22-6 while scoring the lone goal.

Robert Morris got on the board at the 7:37 mark of the second period, as Wydo converted a feed from Evan Moore off a giveaway. Wydo made two moves on Ruby in front and slid the shot into the open side for his 13th goal of the year.

RIT got themselves in a bind moments later, as Ben Lynch (Blaine, MN/Lincoln Stars) was given a five-minute major for contact to the head and a game misconduct. Fortunately, the Tigers penalty-killing unit, led by Ruby, came up big and kept it a one-goal game.

Ruby made two huge saves on odd-man rushes late in the period, while the Tigers were on a power-play. Ruby stopped Brace on a 2-on-1, then robbed Jeff Jones with a nifty save off a backhander.

The Colonials got the big insurance goal with 5:26 left in regulation, as Friedmann took a pass from Tyler Hinds and raced into the RIT zone on a 1-on-1, was able to fire a shot from close range and past Ruby to the short side for his sixth goal of the year.

RIT had a 5-on-3 advantage for 48 seconds with just under four minutes left, but were unable to convert.

Hervato put the game away with 24 seconds left, as Ruby was pulled for the extra attacker, as he fired a long shot into the open goal.

RIT is 2-5-3 all-time against the Colonials and have never won at 84 Lumber Arena, with a 0-4-1 mark. On Oct. 25, Robert Morris defeated RIT at Ritter Arena, 6-4. Brad Shumway (Lafayette, CO/Chicago Steel) and Nolan Descoteaux (Dallas, TX/South Shore Kings) recorded three points apiece in the loss for the Tigers, while Ruby made 33 saves. Robert Morris out-shot RIT, 39-38. Hervato tallied a goal and three assists for the Colonials.

The two teams square off once again on Saturday night at 84 Lumber Arena at 7:05 p.m.