UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Despite a pair of goals from sophomore Justin Poirier it was a three-goal opening period by Robert Morris that ultimately decided the contest as the Colonials defeated Penn State, 5-2, in non-conference action at Pegula Ice Arena on Tuesday night.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Robert Morris (1-4-0) opened the scoring early as Patrick Johnson blocked a slapshot at the point and skated down the ice uncontested before snapping a wrister past the blocker of Nittany Lion freshman net-minder Ryder Fetterolf for the 1-0 edge just 20 ticks into the contest.
- A neutral zone turnover then led to a 3-on-1 rush for RMU and Michael Felsing finished off a cross-crease pass from Brennan Faulkner at the near post for the 2-0 advantage at 15:36 of the opening frame.
- The Colonials ballooned the lead to 3-0 heading into the first intermission with a powerplay tally as George Krotiris cleaned up a rebound after Ryan MacPherson’s initial bid was turned aside with 25 seconds remaining in the first period.
- Penn State (0-4-0) finally got one to go after controlling the pace in the second period as sophomore Justin Poirier snuck through the slot and flicked a backhand over the blocker of RMU goaltender Lucas Massie for the 3-1 deficit at 14:31 of the middle stanza.
- The Nittany Lions cut the deficit to a single goal early in the third period with a powerplay goal of their own as Poirier skated below the left dot and sniped a wrister shortside high and over shoulder of Massie for the 3-2 score at the 4:54 mark.
- The visitors regained the multi-goal lead late in the contest as Krotiris skated the length of the ice and slipped the puck inside the near post for the 4-2 edge at the 16:58 mark before Jackson Reineke hit the empty net with 79 ticks remaining for the 5-2 final
GOALTENDING
Fetterolf stopped 27 shots in his Pegula Ice Arena debut and drops to 0-2-0 on the year with the loss while Massie collected 33 saves and improves to 1-0-0 on the year.
NOTES
- Penn State opens the season 0-4-0 for just the second time in the 15-year NCAA Division I era and first since the Covid season of 2020-21.
- The Nittany Lions held the slim 35-32 edge in shots on goal while going 1-for-6 on the powerplay. RMU was 1-for-5 on the man-advantage in the game.
- RMU snaps a six-game losing streak in the all-time series while securing its first-ever victory at Pegula Ice Arena. Penn State maintains the 8-5-0 series lead and the two teams will conclude the season series at PPG Paints Arena on February 7.
- Poirier collects his second multi-point game of the season and the 10th of his career while securing his first multi-goal game as a Nittany Lion and the sixth of his career.
NEXT UP
Penn State closes out its four-game homestand prior to conference play beginning as the Nittany Lions welcome Canisius to Hockey Valley for a two-game series on Friday and Saturday night at Pegula Ice Arena.
For more information on the 2026-27 season, visit the men's hockey page at GoPSUsports.com or call 1-800-NITTANY Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.