Robert Morris men's hockey coach Derek Schooley knew his team would gain some momentum from its upset win against No. 1 Miami last month at the Pittsburgh College Hockey Showcase.

But even he might be surprised by the extent of the boost it has given the program.

Since beating Miami, 3-1, Jan. 8, Robert Morris is 4-2-2, with another win Jan. 10 at No. 1 Miami, a two-game sweep of Alabama-Huntsville and a win against then-No. 6 Bemidji State.

"I think beating Miami and playing well in both those games gave us a renewed sense of confidence that we can play," Schooley said.

But the wins have done more than that.

Robert Morris' first home game after the showcase featured a standing-room-only crowd that was the second largest in program history.

And it has helped Schooley recruit players to the school.

"It was easy to call recruits and get them to listen a little more," he said.

Schooley and the Robert Morris athletic department have long hoped to attract this excitement to the program.

Matt Mackinder, who covers the Colonials' conference, College Hockey America, for U.S. College Hockey Online, said in an e-mail he believes the Miami wins will cause some recruits to look at Robert Morris more than they might have otherwise.

"It's amazing how a big weekend like that can impact a team's season and long-term success," he said.

But he said the Colonials need to keep winning to keep that momentum going.

"They just have to make sure they don't become a one-hit wonder, so to speak," Mackinder said.

Schooley and the Colonials are confident more hits are to come.

Robert Morris will host Bemidji State, currently No. 7 according to USCHO, next Friday and Feb. 13 at Clearview Arena in the Island Sports Center.

The Colonials and Beavers split their series in Minnesota last week.

But Schooley and sophomore goaltender Brooks Ostergard said they believed the Colonials played well enough to sweep Bemidji State.

That comes back to the confidence the team acquired from its big wins against the RedHawks.

Before the series against Miami, Robert Morris had won six games against ranked opponents in the six-year history of the program. In January, it won three games against ranked opponents.

"After those Miami wins, I think the whole team got the sense that we could skate with any team in the country," Ostergard said.

He made 39 saves against Miami at Mellon Arena and 38 the following Sunday in Oxford, Ohio. In consecutive weeks, he was named defensive player of the week by College Hockey America.

Schooley said as Ostergard goes, so go the Colonials.

"Our team plays confident when he's confident," he said.

And Ostergard said he, too, can sense that.

"It makes me play even better," he said.

The Colonials were 4-12-3 this season heading into the showdown with the RedHawks at Mellon Arena.

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