Pittsburgh, Pa. - The Robert Morris University men's ice hockey team kicked off their “RMU Hockey Krushes Cancer” weekend series against Bentley with a 5-2 victory.

After allowing the first goal in their first two Atlantic Hockey contests, the Colonials would net the first goal of the game just over two minutes into the first period.  While on the power play, the Colonials would execute their breakout and feed the puck to junior forward Colin South (Sewickley, Pa. / Bay State Breakers) for his third goal of the season.  A cross-crease feed from Adam Brace (Cobden, Ontario / Canisius) was created by an outlet pass by Scott Jacklin (Kimberley, British Columbia / Trail Smoke Eaters) as both players were credited with an assist on the goal.  Two minutes and thirty seconds later, the Colonials would double their lead as defenseman Chase Golightly (Temecula, Calif. / Prince George Spruce Kings) would pick up his first career goal.  Golightly joined the rush for RMU to create a 3-on-1 advantage and was rewarded with a pass from Brace that the defenseman deposited above the goaltender’s blocker.  Jacklin was credited with his second assist of the period on the play.  Bentley would cut the lead in half at the 14:05 mark while on the power play.  The goal marked the third consecutive game in which the Colonials allowed a power-play goal.

Less than a minute into the second period, RMU would strike again while on the power play.  The Colonials would work the puck around the offensive zone before Sophomore Cody Wydo (Southgate, Mich. / Motor City Metal Jackets) would follow his initial shot and gather the rebound as he deposited the puck for his third goal of the young season.  Jacklin and South would each earn an assist on the goal.  The Falcons would again cut the RMU advantage to a single goal after again capitalizing with the man-advantage.

Coming out for the final period, the Colonials would again net a quick goal to regain their two-goal advantage.  Senior Zach Hervato (Stittsville, Ontario / Smiths Falls Bears) would surpass his goal total from the previous season as he tallied his fourth goal of the season.  Freshman Evan Moore (Grosse Point, Mich. / Sioux Falls Stampede) would shuffle the puck to South who then dished a pass in front of a flailing Bentley goaltender to Hervato all alone on the right post.  Robert Morris would add an insurance goal as Brace would pick up his second goal of the season with less than three minutes remaining in the game.  Led into the offensive zone by a pass from Jacklin, Brace would race around a Bentley defender and break out a backhand-forehand deke to net the goal above the outstretched left pad of the goalie.  Jacklin’s fourth assist in the game tied a single-game record that was previously shared by Nathan Longpre (11/13/2010 vs. Sacred Heart) and Doug Conley (10/22/2005 at Bentley).

The Colonials would outshoot the Falcons 32-26 as all but two Colonials managed a shot on net.  Freshman Greg Gibson (Burlington, Ontario / Amarillo Bulls) would lead RMU with five shots on the Bentley goaltender.  Robert Morris would block 17 shots on the evening as Moore would block three shots himself.  Both teams would end the night 2-for-5 on the power play.  The line of Wydo, Jacklin, and Brace would tally nine points (2 goals, 7 assists) in the contest.

The Colonials will conclude their two-game series against Bentley tomorrow evening.  The game on Saturday will continue the team’s Men’s Cancer Awareness Weekend.  The team will be doing multiple fundraisers including a silent auction, selling “RMU Hockey Krushes Cancer” wristbands, as well as a post-game autograph session.