Columbus, Ohio – The Robert Morris University men's ice hockey team, lead by three second-period goals, defeated CCHA opponent Ohio State, 4-3, Sunday afternoon at the Value City Arena. With the victory, the Colonials improve to 6-3-1 on the season, while the Buckeyes fall to 2-9-1.
The first period ended with the score notched at zero, with neither team able to score. Senior goalie Christian Boucher (Orleans, Ontario / Cumberland Gras) made 10 saves in the period including a shorthanded chance right on his door step with less than 20 seconds remaining in the period. For the period the two teams went 0-5 on the power-play, including a RMU 40 second two-man advantage.
After RMU and Ohio State combined for, seven goals in the second period Friday night, the two teams scored four goals in the second period of today's contest. The Buckeyes opened the scoring with a power-play goal, 1:06 after a disallowed goal, when Sergio Somma beat Boucher high from the face-off circle making the score, 1-0, at the 13:24 mark. The Colonials however stormed back and scored three unanswered goals starting with an unassisted goal by junior Jason Towsley (LaSalle, Ontario / Leamington Flyers), his sixth of the season, at the 8:13 mark. Senior Tom Biondich (International Falls, Minn. / Wichita Falls Rustlers) scored his first goal of the season just 46 seconds later giving the Colonials a, 2-1, edge. Joel Gasper (Crookston, Minn. / Billings Bulls) and Jake Obermeyer (Chanhassen, Minn. / Tri-City Storm) picked up assists on the play. Senior Brett Hopfe (Didsbury, Alberta / Olds Grizzlys) notched his second goal of the season to give RMU a, 3-1, advantage at the 15:19 mark of the second period. Chris Kaufman (Gig Harbor, Wash. / Helena Bighorns) and Gasper tallied assists on the play.
OSU tallied a pair of goals in the final frame with Somma tallying his second of the game at the 6:52 mark and Tommy Goebel scoring at the 12:48 mark. Chris Margott (Thousand Oaks, Calif. / Bay State Breakers) tallied his third goal of the season and the game-winner at the 12:07 mark, giving the Colonials a 4-3 victory. Jeff Gilbert (Barrie, Ontario / Aurora Tigers) picked up the lone assist on the play.
Boucher made 34 saves on 37 shots, while OSU goalie Joseph Palmer stopped 22-of-26 shots he faced.
The Colonials failed to score a power-play goal going 0-for-4, while the Buckeyes converted on 2-of-6 chances. Ohio State outshot Robert Morris, 37-26.
The Colonials return to action when they travel to Hamilton, N.Y. for a weekend series with Colgate on Dec. 1-2.
