Penn State entered Tuesday night looking for answers to its disappointing start to the 2026-27 season. Instead, the Nittany Lions left Pegula Ice Arena with more questions after another frustrating performance.
Robert Morris scored three first-period goals and withstood a third-period comeback attempt to defeat Penn State 5-2, extending the Nittany Lions’ season-opening losing streak to four games.
Justin Poirier scored twice for Penn State (0-4-0), but the Nittany Lions couldn’t overcome another sluggish opening period despite outshooting the Colonials 35-32.
Robert Morris (1-4-0) entered Tuesday averaging just 1.25 goals per game and had scored five times in its first four contests. The Colonials matched that season total in one night, snapping Penn State’s six-game winning streak in the series.
The loss also marked Robert Morris’ first victory at Pegula Ice Arena.
Penn State’s problems began almost immediately.
Just 20 seconds into the contest, Patrick Johnson beat freshman goaltender Ryder Fetterolf to give Robert Morris a 1-0 advantage.
The early deficit continued a troubling trend for a Penn State team that has struggled defensively through the opening weeks.
Michael Felsing doubled the Colonials’ advantage at 15:36, finishing a play assisted by Brennan Faulkner and Ryan MacPherson.
Penn State’s penalty troubles then compounded its difficult opening period.
With Kaden Pitre serving a minor penalty for indirect contact to the head, George Krotiris capitalized on the power play at 19:35 to give Robert Morris a commanding 3-0 lead entering the first intermission.
The Colonials outshot Penn State 15-6 in the opening 20 minutes.
Facing a three-goal deficit, Penn State finally began generating sustained offensive pressure in the second period.
The Nittany Lions outshot Robert Morris 19-6 during the middle frame but struggled to solve goaltender Lucas Massie.
Penn State had several opportunities to cut into the deficit, including multiple power plays, but couldn’t convert.
Pitre nearly broke through when his shot struck the pipe, while Massie repeatedly turned aside scoring opportunities.
The breakthrough finally arrived at 14:31.
Poirier scored his first goal of the season, with Justin Larose and Caeden Herrington collecting assists, cutting Robert Morris’ lead to 3-1.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.Despite dominating the period territorially and generating nearly three times as many shots as the Colonials, Penn State entered the third period still trailing by two goals.
The Nittany Lions briefly appeared poised to complete a comeback.
With Gabriel Lunn serving a tripping penalty, Poirier struck again just 4:54 into the third period.
Jackson Smith and Reese Laubach assisted on the power-play goal, pulling Penn State within 3-2 and giving the announced crowd of 5,569 renewed hope.
However, the Nittany Lions couldn’t find the equalizer.
Massie continued frustrating Penn State’s offensive attack, finishing with 33 saves while securing Robert Morris’ first victory of the season.
Krotiris delivered the decisive blow at 16:58, scoring his second goal of the evening to restore the Colonials’ two-goal advantage.
Jackson Reineke added an empty-net goal at 18:49 to complete the scoring.
Fetterolf finished with 27 saves in the loss.
Penn State converted one of six power-play opportunities while Robert Morris finished one-for-six.
The defeat raises further concerns about Penn State’s defensive consistency and ability to capitalize on offensive opportunities.
Through four games, the Nittany Lions have surrendered 20 goals while scoring just nine, a troubling development for a program attempting to replace significant production from last season’s NCAA Tournament team.
Tuesday represented an opportunity to regain confidence against an opponent that had struggled offensively.
Instead, Penn State watched another manageable matchup slip away.
The Nittany Lions will attempt to end their winless start when Canisius visits Pegula Ice Arena for a two-game series Friday and Saturday.
For Guy Gadowsky’s team, the urgency to find answers is growing with each passing game.
