Oxford, Ohio / Steve Cady Arena - The Robert Morris University men's hockey team watch their team record - and the nation's longest current - win streak come to a close Thursday night with a 7-3 at #11 Miami (Ohio). The Colonials, now one game under .500 at 13-14-1, had won five straight heading into Thursday night's contest with the RedHawks (21-10-4).
The Colonials received scoring from seven different players with junior forward Sean Berkstresser (Apollo, Pa. / Pittsburgh Forge) picking up two assists. Senior Aaron Clarke (Peterborough, Ontario / Niagara University) stretched his point streak to a new team record eight games with a goal in the second period. Miami had five different players with multi-point efforts including three goals and an assist by Ryan Jones and two goals and two assists from Marty Guerin.
The Colonials got off to a slow start and found themselves staring at a 3-0 deficit just 5:45 into the game. Jones scored the game's first two goals at 1:10 and a power play score at 3:15. Nathan Davis added an even-strength goal at 5:45 to put the RedHawks on top early.
Sophomore Chris Margott (Thousand Oaks, Calif. / Bay State Breakers) put Robert Morris on the board at 14:03 of the period with assists to senior Doug Conley (East Amherst, N.Y. / Tri-City Storm) and junior David Boguslawski (Cottage Grove, Minn. / Tri-City Storm).
Guiren put home a shorthanded score 7:31 into the second period, but RMU quickly answered and bounced back into the contest. Clarke scored his 10th goal of the year on the power play just 55 seconds after Guerin's goal with sophomore Jake Obermeyer (Chanhassen, Minn. / Tri-City Storm) and Berkstresser earning the helpers. Freshman Kyle Frieday (Burlington, Ontario / Oakville Blades) made it 4-3 at 12:30 of the middle stanza, scoring on Berkstresser's second assist of the night.
Miami stretched the lead back out to two goals, 5-3, when Geoff Smith scored on a power play at 16:36. The RedHawks finished the game out with two third period goals. Jones finished off his hat trick 4:40 into the final frame and Guerin added his second of the night at 8:46.
Robert Morris senior Joe Tuset (Eagan, Minn. / Northern Michigan University) took the loss in net making 44 saves on 51 shots. Charlie Effinger picked up the victory with 23 saves and three goals against. Miami was 2-8 on the power play and Robert Morris was 1-4.
These two teams meet again this Saturday, February 17, at 7:35 p.m. at the RMU Island Sports Center.
