Team looks for intensity to end losing skid

The IU hockey team will try to end a three-game skid this weekend in Chicago, Ill. The Hoosiers (2-3-0) will play two games against No. 19 Robert Morris College (8-5-0) in their second division I series of the year.\nThis weekend will mark the third series between the teams. IU holds the series edge 4-0 and has outscored Robert Morris 29-10 in those four meetings.\nLast week, IU lost one game to Michigan State, but played some of their best hockey towards the end of the game. Graduate forward Tom Orr said the momentum from that last period will help the Hoosiers this weekend.\n"Last week was really an eye-opener, losing in our own building, we hadn't done that in a while. We really played with a lot of desperation at the end (of the Michigan State game)" Orr said. "Our intensity has been really good this week in practice."\nThe Hoosier's special team woes continued last weekend as Michigan State tallied two powerplay goals to IU's none. Senior defenseman and team captain Joe Rogers said special teams have been the focus of the team this week.\n"We need to improve on our special teams," Rogers said. "We need to control the puck more both attacking and in the defensive zone."\nCoach Rich Holdeman said that intensity was the biggest difference between IU's play early on against Michigan State and late in the game. He said he will be looking for that improvement to show on the powerplay.\n"They (the players) got a sense of what it meant to play with a higher level of intensity and urgency. We're continuing to work on that and we're working a lot on our special teams, which is the most critical part of our game." Holdeman said.\nRobert Morris is fairly new to the ACHA, joining three years ago. The college has two teams, a gold team that plays division I, and a maroon team that plays division II. IU will face Robert Morris Maroon in their last regular season series of the year. Holdeman said the team is looking forward to getting back on track.\n"We've got a lot of guys from Chicago who are excited to go home and play in front of friends and family." Holdeman said. "Robert Morris has made a lot of progress in the last three years, so it should be a pretty good test for us, but definitely winnable"