Pittsburgh, Pa. - The Robert Morris University men's ice hockey team opened up their season with an exhibition victory against Wilfrid Laurier by a score of 10-4 on Sunday evening.

The game did not start off so well for the Colonials as just 14 seconds into the game they allowed the Golden Hawks to score.  Just over six minutes later, sophomore forward Scott Jacklin (Kimberley, British Columbia / Trail Smoke Eaters) would score his first of two goals on the night to tie the game at 1-1.  With just under five minutes remaining in the first, senior forward Zach Hervato (Stittsville, Ontario / Smiths Falls Bears) would net his first goal en route to a hat-trick on the evening.  With 34 seconds remaining before the first intermission, junior forward Colin South (Sewickley, Pa. / Bay State Breakers) would redirect a shot past the Wilfrid Laurier net minder to put RMU up 3-1 after the first period of play.

In the second period of action, the two teams would combine for six goals and forty penalty minutes.  Wilfrid Laurier would bring the Robert Morris lead to one as it scored less than three minutes into the period.  The Colonials would quickly regain their two-goal lead as Jacklin would score his second goal of the game to put the team up 4-2.  Just over the halfway mark of the game, RMU would increase their lead to three as freshman forward Zac Lynch (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Bay State Breakers) beat the Golden Hawk goalie.  Wilfrid Laurier would pick up their third goal of the game at 13:19 of the second period while on the power-play.  The Colonials would respond with two power-play goals of their own to close out the second period.  The first came off of the stick of Hervato during a 5-on-3 advantage for RMU.  The second man-advantage goal came from the stick of sophomore forward Jeff Jones (Revelstoke, British Columbia / Merritt Centennials) with 37 seconds remaining in the period.

The final period saw the Colonials reach the 10-goal mark with three more tallies.  The team's eighth goal came courtesy of junior forward Mac Roy (Chilliwack, British Columbia / Alabama-Huntsville) as he scored at the 1:26 mark of the frame.  Hervato would seal his hat-trick at the 13:16 mark with a long wrist-shot that beat the Golden Hawk goaltender.  The Colonials tenth goal was the only goal scored by a defenseman as freshman Chase Golightly (Temecula, Calif. / Prince George Spruce Kings) notched the mark with 52 seconds remaining in the contest.  The scoring was not done with however as Wilfrid Laurier picked up a late goal with just eight seconds remaining to make the final score 10-4.

Robert Morris outshot the Golden Hawks by a 41-13 margin as only five of the 21 skaters did not register a puck on net.  The Colonials went 3-for-8 with the man-advantage in the game while the team allowed one goal during their five penalty kill attempts.  Forwards David Friedmann (Toronto, Ontario / Toronto Jr. Canadiens) and Adam Brace (Cobden, Ontario / Canisius)each contributed three assists in the contest as only six players did not register a point.  Senior goaltender Eric Levine (Wheeling, Ill. / Pembroke Lumber Kings) started the game for RMU and gave way to freshman Terry Shafer (Penfield N.Y. / New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs) at the beginning of the third period.

The Colonials will open up the 2012-2013 regular season with a pair of road contests against the Quinnipiac Bobcats next weekend.  On Saturday, the face-off is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. before the two teams square off on Sunday at Noon.