Bemidji, Minn. / John S. Glas Fieldhouse - The Robert Morris University men's hockey team had to a settle for a two-game series split against College Hockey America preseason favorite Bemidji State following a 3-0 loss to the Beavers Saturday night. The Colonials won Friday's meeting, 3-2 ? their first win at Bemidji in five tries ? and now sit at 3-5-0 overall and are in second place with a 2-2-0 mark in the conference.
Bemidji State goaltender Matt Climie earned his sixth career shutout with 26 saves in the game, including 12 in the second period. Robert Morris senior starter Joe Tuset (Eagan, Minn. / Northern Michigan) had a tougher task, making 33 saves as the Colonials were outshot 36-26.
Defense dominated the first period with each team registering just five shots on net, the majority of which came on the five power plays in the period. RMU was 0-for-3 with the man advantage in the first period ? 0-for-9 in the game ? while the Beavers went 0-2.
Bemidji State would break open the game with a three-goal second period. Matt Pope's first of two goals broke up the scoreless draw 4:21 into the second period. Pope was on the end of a quick passing play that started with Brandon Marino behind the net and Tyler Scofield at the top of the crease.
Pope's second of the night, and of the season, came 15:53 into the middle frame. Again it was the same setup as the Beaver's first goal with Pope finding himself on the end of a nifty passing play. Jake Bluhm fed Joey Moggach at the crease from behind the net and Moggach found Pope on the opposite side of the net for the 2-0 lead. Luke Erickson capped the scoring at 18:47 of the frame with Bemidji's only power play goal in nine chances. His goal came off a face-off win by Travis Winter as the team's skated four-on-four.
The Colonials return to the RMU Island Sports Center for a busy three-game weekend. They host Alabama-Huntsville in a CHA series Friday and Saturday, November 17-18, before taking the ice against the U.S. National Under-18 squad in an exhibition game Sunday afternoon.
