Pittsburgh, Pa. / Island Sports Center - The Robert Morris University men's hockey team improved to 3-2 against ranked teams in 2006-07 following a 5-2 win against Niagara University in College Hockey America action at the RMU Island Sports Center Saturday night. The Colonials (11-13-1, 7-7-0 CHA) outscored the Purple Eagles (17-10-3, 8-3-3 CHA) 12-3 over two nights including a 7-1 win Friday night.
This season, Robert Morris has posted wins against #2 Notre Dame (4-2, Jan. 7, 2007) and this weekend's sweep of Niagara. They also lost to Notre Dame (6-2, Jan. 5, 2007) at Mellon Arena and an early season meeting with then-ranked #7 Cornell (4-1, Oct. 26, 2006).
The Colonials owned the majority of chances in the first period outshooting the visiting Purple Eagles, 19-5, but neither team could find the back of the net.
Both teams broke out in the second period and each recovered from one-goal deficits with Robert Morris eventually taking a 3-2 lead into the intermission. Three of the five goals came on the power play and one was a four-on-four score.
Senior Doug Conley (East Amherst, N.Y. / Tri-City Storm) opened the game scoring for RMU scoring an easy power play goal on a cross ice feed from left circle by sophomore Chris Margott (Thousand Oaks, Calif. / Bay State Breakers) that found Conley on the door step for an open net 1:31 into the second period.
Niagara came back with the next two goals started by Sean Bentivoglio who poked home a rebound on a two-on-one break with Les Reaney. Pat Oliveto started the rush out of the defensive zone with a long pass. Ted Cook's league-leading 27th of the year came with the man-advantage as he found himself wide open on the doorstep after a pass from Chris Moran.
Colonials junior Ryan Cruthers (Farmingdale, N.Y. / Army) answered with the first of his two goals on the night at 15:24 with a power play score while senior Aaron Clarke (Peterborough, Ontario / Niagara University) and freshman Kyle Frieday (Burlington, Ontario / Oakville Blades) picked up the helpers. Margott gave RMU the lead 1:26 later when he broke in alone on Pagliero and beat him to the stick side after Conley sprung him with a pass up the left wing. Junior defenseman Rob Cowan (Calgary, Alberta / Olds Grizzlys) started the play from behind the Colonial net.
Robert Morris added to the lead with their third power play marker night, again off the stick of Cruthers. The junior buried a rebound of a shot by Clarke from the right circle at 7:40 of the third period. Junior Sean Berkstresser (Apollo, Pa. / Pittsburgh Forge) also had an assist on the goal.
Rob Cowan and freshman Dave Cowan (Calgary, Alberta / Olds Grizzlys) connected on the team's first brother-to-brother goal as the younger Cowan fed the older for a shorthanded empty net goal that traveled the length of the ice and went in with three seconds left in regulation. It was Rob's first goal of the year and Dave's first assist.
Colonials junior goaltender Christian Boucher (Orleans, Ontario / Cumberland Grads) came up big over the final 40 minutes, making 34 of his 39 saves in the game in the last two periods. Pagliero finished with 32 saves, including 19 in the first period, as Niagara held a 41-37 advantage in shots. Robert Morris converted on 3-5 power plays to finish the weekend 5-10 on the power play. Niagara converted on one of eight chances.
The Colonials continue their CHA schedule when they host Bemidji State next Friday and Saturday, February 9-10, at the RMU Island Sports Center. Both games are slated for 7:35 p.m. starts.
