Robert Morris advanced to the semifinals of the Central States Collegiate Hockey League tournament with a comprehensive 7-1 win against Indiana Friday afternoon in Bird Arena.
The win for the third-seeded Eagles means they are the team Ohio will play in the semis if the second-seeded Bobcats get by Kent State later Friday night.
After beating Indiana all four times the teams played during the regular season, Robert Morris came in as big favorites and proved it right away. RMU’s Christopher Cimoch scored the opener 9 minutes in and Markus Ellis and Mason Riley added two more for a 3-0 lead after one, a period in which the Eagles outshot the Hoosiers 14-2.
The Hoosiers were able to get on the board just 2:09 into the second. Some sloppy Robert Morris defense left Daniel Emanuel in the corner alone to send a centering pass right out in front on to the stick of Tommy Washburn for an easy tap in.
But Robert Morris responded just three minutes later through Gehrett Sargis, and Cimoch added another on the power play with 2:46 left in the period for a 5-1 Eagles lead.
And it was again the Cimoch show in the third as the RMU forward added two more power play tallies to finishing with four goals overall as the Eagles’ won 7-1.
Andy DiCristofaro made 12 saves for Robert Morris in the win, while Indiana’s Michael Reed stopped 34 shots in the loss.
Robert Morris will now either face either Ohio at 7:30 Saturday night or, in the case of a Kent win later on Friday, Illinois at 4 p.m. Saturday. The Kent v. Ohio game is set for a 7:30 faceoff.
cd211209@ohiou.edu
