A rough power-play goal was the Chargers’ undoing in a tough 4-3 loss at Robert Morris in Pittsburgh on Sunday.
The Colonials got the win and the series sweep by breaking a 3-3 tie with 7:11 remaining as penalties caught up with UAH in the third period.
It was still a better third-period effort for UAH (0-2), which allowed five goals in the final frame in Saturday. The young Chargers will carry this into their next action on December 4, a non-conference game at Ferris State.
Early on, it looked like RMU (2-0) would keep their momentum from Saturday into Sunday. The Colonials scored quickly, just 22 seconds in, as Nick Prkusic deflected a shot from the right point by Nick Jenny and hogtied Derek Krall.
Krall made his first college start Sunday. He started to settle after the first goal, and finished with 25 saves on 29 shots.
Bauer Neudecker evened the contest up at 1-1 with his second goal of the series. With 8:38 left in the first, his wrister from the left circle beat Reid Cooper high. Tyrone Bronte and Tyr Thompson got the assists.
UAH took a 2-1 lead with a power play goal at the 6:22 mark of the second period.
Following a Nolan Schaeffer boarding penalty, Dayne Finnson’s shot from the left circle hit Cooper’s glove, and the puck went up, over, and in behind him. Lucas Bahn had the assist.
UAH had another power play chance that didn’t do much, and right after it expired Robert Morris scored on a 2-on-1 to tie the game at 2-2 with 6:28 remaining in the second. Aidan Spellacy got the tally.
Each team had a power play goal in the final two minutes of the second period.
The Chargers took a 3-2 lead when Thompson poked in a loose puck on Cooper’s doorstep with 1:21 remaining. Then, following a Brian Scoville interference penalty, RMU leveled it up again on a Santeri Hartikainen one-timer from the left circle.
UAH got the penalty bug again in the third period, and it cost the Chargers with 7:11 to go. The Colonials crashed the net on their third advantage of the frame, piling on Krall. A review checked to see if the net had come off its mooring before the puck crossed the goal line was inconclusive and the call stood, giving RMU a 4-3 lead.
The Chargers had one power play chance with five minutes to go to equalize, but nothing came of it. They went 2-for-4 with the advantage.
Saturday’s starting goaltender, David Fessenden, was listed as Krall’s backup. Fessenden was removed after getting hurt in warmups before the third period Saturday.