After working overtime twice during the weekend, the Robert Morris University men’s hockey team remained in the United States College Hockey Online (USCHO) top 20 for the third consecutive week.
The 7-1-2 Colonials clock in at No. 20 in this week’s USCHO Division I men’s hockey poll, released Monday afternoon. RMU was ranked 17th heading into last weekend’s home series against Air Force and No. 18 the week before that. Prior to this season, the Colonials had never been ranked in back-to-back polls by USCHO voters.
Robert Morris rallied back for a 3-3 tie Friday night at 84 Lumber Arena, but Air Force served the Colonials their first loss of the season Saturday night, 2-1 in overtime. Prior to that defeat, RMU had played 27 consecutive OT games without a loss, an 8-0-19 streak that started nearly four years ago.
Although they fell from the undefeated ranks Saturday, Friday’s tie meant the Colonials matched a program record for most consecutive games (nine) without a loss. This is just the second time in 11 Division I seasons that RMU has won seven of its first 10 games; the 2010-11 team started 7-2-1 on its way to an 18-12-5 finish.
With a 5-1-2 record in conference play, RMU remains in first place in Atlantic Hockey. The Colonials return to the road this Friday and Saturday when they face league foe American International in West Springfield, Mass.
In other relevant college hockey rankings, Robert Morris is 24th in both the Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) and the PairWise Rankings. RPI is one statistical tool used by the NCAA to set its postseason tournament field, while PairWise attempts to mimic the NCAA’s annual selection process. RMU made its first NCAA tournament appearance last season by winning the Atlantic Hockey postseason championship.
The weekly USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine poll mentions the Colonials for the eighth consecutive time. Although they were not listed in the top 15, the Colonials received enough votes for an unofficial 22nd-place standing.
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(Photo: RMU junior forward Zac Lynch battles with an Army player in a game last month in West Point, N.Y. Credit: Paul Bereswill)