Robert Morris University defeated Air Force 6-3 in an Atlantic Hockey America matchup on Saturday at the Cadet Ice Arena. The Colonials improved their record to 4-10-2 overall and 4-3-1 in conference play, while Air Force fell to 9-7-2 overall and 6-5-1 in the AHA.
Robert Morris outshot Air Force 14-4 in the opening period, but only led by one goal after defenseman John Babcock scored at 4:44 during a 3-on-2 rush.
Air Force responded early in the second period, tying the game when Chris Hedden scored his ninth goal of the season with assists from Nolan Cunningham and Will Dawson. The Falcons took their first lead at 8:17 as Cole Christian redirected a shot from Brendan Gibbons, with Will Staring also assisting.
However, Robert Morris answered with four goals over nine minutes late in the second period. Cameron Garvey tied it up on a breakaway at 10:16. Jackson Reineke added two more goals—one on a power play at 12:46 and another on a breakaway at 17:26. Ryan Taylor extended RMU’s lead to three with a goal just before the end of the period.
In the third period, Nick Sajevic brought Air Force within two by scoring his third goal of the season at 12:49, assisted by Dawson and Staring. With time running out, Air Force pulled its goalie for an extra attacker, but Braden Rourke sealed Robert Morris’ win with an empty-net goal.
“I thought at the end of the first period, we were fortunate to only be down a goal,” head coach Frank Serratore said. “Give Robert Morris credit, they came back with a sense of urgency like we expected they would. They tried to knock us out in the first period, but Dom Wasik didn’t allow that to happen. We got some traction in the second and scored a couple goals, but we were not consistently good and Robert Morris was better.”
Both teams finished with 32 saves from their goaltenders—Dom Wasik for Air Force and Charlie Schenkel for RMU—with RMU holding a slight edge in total shots (38-35). On special teams, Air Force went scoreless on five power plays while RMU converted one of three opportunities.
“We can’t lose sight of what we have accomplished in the first half of the season,” Serratore said. “When the season started, we had no identity and had no idea what we had in goal. This group has established an identity, Dom has given us a chance every night and have had a great run. We are going into the break with a winning record and should be going into the second half of the season with a lot of confidence. When we show up, compete and play connected, good things happen.”
Air Force will return to action January 2–3 at Arizona State’s Desert Hockey Classic tournament in Tempe.
