The Robert Morris University men’s hockey team scored twice in the third period but came up one goal short in a 3-2 loss to Quinnipiac University at home on Saturday night. The Colonials continue to struggle on home ice, falling to 2-4 overall and 0-3-0 this season at the RMU Island Sports Center.
Quinnipiac, meanwhile, wins their sixth straight game to improve to 6-2 on the year. The game was full of penalties with 28 penalties called totaling 72 minutes.
Trailing 3-0 in the third period, the Colonials came back to score twice in 37 seconds, cutting the margin to just one goal. Skating in a 5-on-3 situation, sophomore Sean Berkstresser tallied his second goal of the season from the slot at 13:31 of the third period. Sophomore Jace Buzek and junior Doug Conley were credited with the assists.
Sophomore Brett Hopfe made it 3-2 with another power-play goal, his fifth of the season, when he finished off a rebound from sophomore Jeff Gilbert’s slap shot from the point. Senior Kurt Wright also had an assist on the goal.
Quinnipiac had two power-play goals, finishing the game 2-7 on the man advantage. They scored once in each period with Peter Alden finishing off a two-on-one break with Ty Deinema at 17:00 of the first period on the power play.
They stretched the lead at 10:37 of the second period on Matt Sorteberg’s third goal of the season when his slap shot from the point found the corner of the net. Brian Leitch and Jamie Bates each picked up their fourth assists on the season on the tally. Dan Lefort scored an unassisted goal at 11:20 of the third period.
Robert Morris, who entered the series with the top power-play unit in the nation, finished the game 2-7 on the power play with 17 shots.
The Colonials also held a 32-15 advantage in shots on goal. The Colonials are off next weekend before returning to action on at the RMU Island Sports Center November 12 and 13 against RIT. The Bobcats host Harvard and Dartmouth next weekend.
