Justin Berl Photo/RMU Athletics
NEVILLE TWP.,Pa- Led by two, third period goals from Tanner Klimpke and a solid performance in the net from freshman Charlie Schenkel, the Robert Morris Colonials upended the visiting Niagara Purple Eagles by a score of 4-2 at Clearview Arena, taking their first Atlantic Hockey Association conference victory of the season in the process on Friday night. The win gave the Colonials back to back rewards as they came off a come from behind tie on the road last Saturday night following their three game losing streak to start the regular season. Robert Morris had the better of the play for stretches on Friday night against a Purple Eagle side that had seen its fair share of good results wins over St. Lawrence and Bowling Green earlier this season.
“I thought we were really consistent for the whole game,” Robert Morris head coach Derek Schooley said. “I liked our response when they scored, we came right back with goals the next shift after. We limited their chances and only gave them opportunities when we turned pucks over. We pushed pucks up the ice. Hats off to them, they’re a good hockey team but we got those late goals which were big for us.”
It took forward Jackson Reineke just 3:15 to open the scoring when he beat starting Purple Eagle net minder Deivs Rolovs for his third goal of the season to put the Colonials in the lead early. The one goal advantage held up until Marshall Finnie tied it up with his fourth goal of the season with a hard shot from the right circle at 4:36 of the second frame. The Eagles appeared to have shifted the momentum of the game with the goal, but the Colonials had answers for them throughout the game. At 15:03, Cameron Garvey found a fat rebound from his original shot and put it past Rolovs from his knees to put Robert Morris back in front heading to the dressing room after 40 minutes of play.
The Colonials kept the Eagles off the scoreboard thanks to a combination of Schenkel saves and timely clears from his defense for large stretches of the game. However, with Dario Beljo in the penalty box midway through the third period, Niagara knotted the score at two on the ensuing man advantage as Declan McConnell sent a hard shot from the left circle at 10:45 of the third.
“Charlie is a good, solid goaltender who makes everything look easy,” Schooley remarked. “He’s been really good for us throughout the first five games and we’re excited to have him as part of our team.”
Klimpke then came up with his first two goals of the season and they couldn’t have come at a better time as he worked behind the on a wrap around shot that made 3-2 and then closed out the scoring with an empty net tally at 19:08 to salt away the result.
“Bruce McDonald, George Krotiris and Jackson Reineke have been our best line and we knew that we’d be dangerous when we got Garvey, Klimpke and Felsing going,” Schooley added. “To get three goals from Garvey and Klimpke was huge. We just need them to keep rolling and it’s going to be really good for our group.”
The Robert Morris Colonials travel to Niagara on Saturday night to finish the weekend series with puck drop scheduled for 6 PM.
