Robert Morris University storms into AHA semi-finals after comeback series win over Air Force
robert morris university men’s hockey is moving on, sealing a spot in the AHA semi-finals after taking two straight wins to close out a best-of-three quarterfinal series against the United States Air Force Academy. The Colonials dropped the opener in double overtime but answered immediately, controlling Games 2 and 3 to advance. The semi-final series is set for March 13 to March 15 (ET) in Fairfield, Connecticut, where the Colonials will face #2-ranked Sacred Heart University.
Quarterfinal series turns after double-overtime opener
The series opened with a tight, extended finish: Robert Morris fell 3-2 in overtime after double overtime, despite a two-goal night from Tanner Klimpke. Jackson Renieke and Michael Craig each added assists on the scoring plays.
In that first game, the Colonials’ penalty kill faltered at a pivotal moment as the team allowed a short-handed goal, and Air Force ultimately secured the overtime win. The setback put immediate pressure on Robert Morris, with no margin left in the series.
robert morris university answers with back-to-back wins to clinch
The response came fast in Game 2. Robert Morris seized control with a 4-1 win to force a deciding third game. The scoring spread across the lineup, with goals from Luke van Why, Patrick Johnson, Julian Beaumont, and Dario Beljo. For Beljo, it was his first goal for the Colonials.
Freshman goaltender Charlie Schenkel was sharp in net in that second game, posting a. 971 save percentage while stopping 33 shots. That performance carried straight into the series finale, where the volume of work spiked and the result still swung the Colonials’ way.
In Game 3, Robert Morris dominated the deciding matchup and shut down Air Force to win 5-2, advancing in the AHA playoffs. Schenkel anchored the win with a program-record 60 saves, a number that stood out as the defining statistic of the clincher.
Offensively in the third game, Michael Felsing scored twice. Ryan Taylor, John Babcock, and Max Wattvil each added a goal, with Wattvil recording his first goal as a Colonial. The combined effort—timely finishing up front and a record-setting performance in goal—flipped the series after the initial overtime loss.
Immediate reactions: record goaltending and first-time goals shape the story
The night belonged to the crease and the depth of the lineup. Charlie Schenkel, freshman goaltender for Robert Morris University men’s hockey, set a program record with 60 saves in the series-deciding win, delivering the kind of performance that keeps a season alive in playoff hockey.
On the scoring side, Dario Beljo and Max Wattvil each registered milestone moments—Beljo with his first goal for the Colonials in Game 2, and Wattvil with his first as a Colonial in Game 3. Those firsts landed in high-pressure minutes, turning contributions from across the roster into a clear advantage over the final two games of the set.
Quick context: what this win means in the bracket
This was a best-of-three quarterfinal series in the AHA playoffs, with Robert Morris forced to respond after losing the opener in double overtime. Winning Games 2 and 3 sends the Colonials into the next round with momentum and a tested goaltender coming off a record-setting outing.
What’s next: semi-finals date, site, and opponent
Next up, Robert Morris will face #2-ranked Sacred Heart University in the AHA semi-finals. The best-of-three series will be played in Fairfield, Connecticut, from March 13 to March 15 (ET), setting the stage for the Colonials to carry their late-series surge forward as robert morris university tries to keep its playoff run alive.
