Dec. 28, 2012
Box Score | Photo Gallery
VIDEO: Coach Gadowsky Postgame Press Conference
PITTSBURGH - The Penn State men's hockey team allowed four first-period goals as it fell to Robert Morris, 6-0, in the opening game of the inaugural Three Rivers Classic at CONSOL Energy Center Friday night. The Nittany Lions fell to 7-9-0 with the loss, while the Colonials improved to 8-4-2.
Andrew Blazek, Adam Brace and Cody Wydo, who scored twice, notched first-period goals, while Matt Cope and Tyler Hinds added third-period markers. Colonials' netminder Eric Levine made 48 saves.
For the Nittany Lions, sophomore goaltender PJ Musico (Orange, Calif.) surrendered four goals on 21 shots in the first period before freshman Matthew Skoff (McKees, Rocks, Pa.) relieved him at the onset of the second. The McKees Rocks, Pa., native turned aside 18 shots during his two periods of work.
Freshman forward Casey Bailey (Anchorage, Alaska) recorded a game-high nine shots as the Nittany Lions outshot the Colonials by a 48-41 margin. Penn State finished 0-for-6 on the power play, while Robert Morris was 1-for-5 with the man advantage.
Robert Morris netted four goals in the opening period, including three strikes in the frame's final 3:27, to take a 4-0 lead. Blazek opened the scoring just 1:49 into the game when his low shot from the left circle went off the far post and into the net.
With 3:27 remaining, the left-shooting Brace entered the Penn State zone with speed and made a move to his forehand before slipping the puck five-hole. Wydo extended the Robert Morris advantage 28 seconds later. The Nittany Lions failed to clear a centering pass from behind the cage before Wydo located the loose puck.
The Colonials tallied once more with 38 seconds left on the clock. Evan Renwick sent a pass from the right circle that was tipped on goal by Brace. Musico made a right-toe save but Wydo found the rebound and scored high.
After a scoreless second period, Matt Cope gave the Colonials a 5-0 lead. While on five-minute power play, Cope tallied on a rebound with 15:37 left in the frame. With 4:08 remaining in the contest, Hinds connected on a one-timer from the left point to account for the 6-0 final.
The Nittany Lions will face the loser of the No. 5 Miami-Ohio State matchup in the Three Rivers Classic consolation game Saturday, Dec. 29 at 4:30 p.m.