PITTSBURGH — With the backdrop of Heinz Field surrounding the action, the Robert Morris Colonials finished their regular season campaign with a 5-1 victory over the visiting Niagara Purple Eagles Sunday night.
While the spotlight was on the home team, it was also on a couple of home town players who played significant roles on the big stage. Freshman Jake Coleman supplied a goal and two assists while Luke Lynch continued his strong second-half play with a key goal that helped swing the momentum back in the Colonials direction.
It was a night built for skilled marksman, as four of the five Colonials tallies needed no further assistance, they were completely clean and well placed in a game where the surface and conditions were somewhat unknown factors coming into the evening.
“We played with a lot of energy in spurts and we capitalized on our chances,” head coach Derek Schooley said. “We capitalized on our chances and they didn’t, our skilled guys took over and they made skilled plays. It was hard because we were dealing with different surroundings, we didn’t have a chance to practice or skate, we’re dealing with softer ice, and pucks in the air that you don’t see as well as could in a normal rink. We’re happy to get the win.”
Brandon Watt started the sniper show at 12:17 when he finished a three-on-one with a shot that beat Niagara net minder Jackson Teichroeb upstairs. Colonials captain Rob Mann then kept the show rolling with a late first period goal that he placed just under the crossbar to double the lead heading into the dressing room.
“I think once everyone got their first shift under their belt they started to settle in a little bit and get the nerves out of the way, it was just like a regular game,” Mann said. “The ice was better than I thought it was going to be. We wanted to make sure we were playing some good hockey going into the playoffs. Obviously we’ve got the bye week to rest up and then we’ll go full tilt right before that first series and we’ll make sure we’re ready to go.”
The Eagles came out with a new level of intensity to start the second frame and pulled back into the game with Sam Renneker’s goal at 4:14. It was all they could come away with on the night thanks to Robert Morris goaltender Francis Marotte who stopped 33 of 34 shots in the win. Lynch found a rebound of a Spencer Dorowicz shot and put it in from point blank range to repel the Niagara momentum.
“I just think I’m playing with great teammates and they’re setting me up a lot,” Lynch said. “Like tonight, It was a great pass from Spencer Dorowicz, he put it right off the pads and I didn’t have to do anything but tap her home. We have a lot of chemistry, we have a great group and we have great leadership and we’re kicking it into another gear coming into the playoffs.”
In the final stanza, the Colonials kept their foot on the gas and kept the twine moving behind Eagles goaltender Guillaume Therien, the third goalie used by Niagara in the contest. Alex Tonge skated around a Niagara defender at the blue line and took the puck straight to the net, where he buried a shot at 11:01. Coleman finished the scoring when he found the back of the net for the first time this season in convincing fashion as he sent a hard low shot from a faceoff win into the net to close out the scoring, the win and the regular season.
“This is a team that was picked sixth,” Schooley said. “This was a team that was written off and a lot of people forgot about going into the year. This group of seniors didn’t want to take a step back and to tie for third place is a lot higher than anybody gave us credit for and we’re excited to move into the second sesaon.”
Coleman’s goal capped a night that will be remembered for a very long time.
“It’s a great event for our students, it’s a great event for our athletes, and a great event for university and we’re proud to be a part of it,” Schooley added. “Thanks to the Penguins, the Steelers and the NHL and thanks to Niagara for switching their home game to Heinz Field. I expect that this is something they’ll remember for the rest of their lives. College is about the student-athlete experience. And to give them this opportunity to play in this venue and to play in front of a very good crowd and in an iconic building is something that these guys will remember for the rest of their lives and you can’t take that away from them.”
