Not many teams in any sport, at any level, can boast of a spotless record all-time. For one night, at least, Robert Morris can.
Jeff Gilbert scored two goals, including the game-winner at the 7:08 mark of the third period, to lead Robert Morris to a 3-1 victory over host Canisius at the Buffalo State Sports Arena Friday night.
The win is RMU’s first victory in hockey as a NCAA Division I member and improves the Colonials to 1-0-0. Canisius falls to 0-2-1.
Canisius opened the scoring on the power play, midway through the first period on senior captain Fred Coccimiglio’s first goal of the season, at 10:23. Coccimiglio grabbed a loose puck of a rebound and beat Robert Morris netminder Christian Boucher. Fellow senior Ryan Corcoran and freshman Mike Ruberto assisted.
But Robert Morris rattled off three unanswered goals to overpower the Griffs and take home the victory in the first game in program history.
Bill Menozzi started the scoring for RMU, knotting the game at 1 at the 3:03 mark of the second period. Menozzi beat Canisius senior goalie Bryan Worosz between the pads from the faceoff circle for the first goal in the Colonials’ history.
Gilbert followed with the eventual game-winner 7:08 into the final period on the power play, then sealed the win for Robert Morris with an empty-netter with two seconds remaining.
Joe Federoff finished with two assists for the Colonials.
Worosz tallied 27 saves for Canisius, while Boucher posted 29 for Robert Morris. Canisius went 1-for-9 on the power play, while the Colonials were 1-for-11. The teams were tied in shots on goal with 30 apiece.
Canisius travels to Robert Morris Saturday for the back end of the home-and-home series.
