Official Site of Robert Morris University Club Sports

Colonials advance to the NCRHA Final Four!

RMU defeats Temple in Round 1, and then upsets SUNY Cortland in the Quarterfinals to advance to play UMass in the Semis

By: Cadeyn McCrory

Roller Hockey | 4/26/2023 9:17:00 AM

The Colonials started day three action as they faced the Temple Owls in a Pool C rematch. RMU took the first game 6-3.

Jeremiah Brosovic got things going early as he put one home assisted by Camron Smith and Luke Zukowski. Seconds later, Giovanni Palombo took a Cam Brickett pass in stride and made it look easy putting it behind the Owls netminder. Palombo would strike gold again, this time on the powerplay and RMU took a commanding 3-0 lead. The Owls took advantage of some RMU penalties as they scored on two of their powerplay attempts thanks to Zach Bengini. Back and forth play from both sides but none were able to solve the other netminder.

Period three was more of the same as neither team could break the other goalie. Palombo would find himself free and he buried the loose change to put the dagger in and RMU would take this one 4-2. Jarrett Tomazich had another phenomenal game in net stopping 31 of 33 shot attempts. The Colonials will move on to round 2 to play their rival in the Cortland Dragons.

The 5-0 RMU Colonials square off with the SUNY Cortland Red Dragons. Cortland has defeated RMU in all 4 regular season and regional appearances up to this point. RMU gets a boost though in the form of Roman Kraemer, fresh off a USA gold medal in the World Cup of University Hockey makes his tournament debut.

Cortland got things going early on from Michael Luzopone getting the goal for the Red Dragons. RMU struck back a couple minutes later as Palombo netted one off a pass from Kraemer. Kraemer struck for his first following Palombos goal as RMU took their first lead of the night. Cortland's Joseph Messina got one up and in under a minute to go to tie things up at 2.

Kraemer opened the 2nd period with his second of the game but Cortland's powerplay took advantage and tied it up again from Michael Rovinsky. Later on in the period, Kraemer found Palombo who put home his 2nd of the game and RMU was back on top. RMU went to the powerplay once more and Kraemer continued his dominance day with his 3rd of the game. Sean Kavanagh of Cortland got one right before the period's end but RMU still held the lead 5-4.

Michael Ravinsky tied things up for the Red Dragons early in period 3 and the battle for the next goal was on. Cortland took two penalties and suddenly RMU had a 4 on 2 for just under a minute. It would only take 17 seconds for Kraemer to put one behind the goalkeeper and RMU took back the lead. Kraemer was not finished and put in number 5 of the day 21 seconds after that. Cortland with RMU coming full speed ahead pulled their goalie after a timeout but Palombo took it all the way down for his hattrick to put RMU up by three. Cortland would sneak one more home from Rovinsky but it would not be enough and RMU is moving on to the Final Four.

RMU will take on University of Massachusetts for a chance at the National Championship.

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Players Mentioned

#16 Giovanni Palombo: Sophomore

Cam Brickett: Sophomore

Jeremiah Brosovic: Junior

Roman Kraemer: Senior

Jarrett Tomazich: Senior

Camron Smith: Senior

Luke Zukowski: Freshman

Players Mentioned

#16 Giovanni Palombo
: Sophomore

Cam Brickett
: Sophomore

Jeremiah Brosovic
: Junior

Roman Kraemer
: Senior

Jarrett Tomazich
: Senior

Camron Smith
: Senior

Luke Zukowski
: Freshman

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