Niagara University, N.Y. ? The Robert Morris University men's ice hockey team turned the tables on Niagara University Saturday night at Dwyer Arena, defeating the Purple Eagles, 7-2, one day after falling by the same score. Tonight's contest was a mirror image only opposite of last night, as the Colonials scored the game's first goal before falling behind, 2-1. They then would go onto score six unanswered goals. With the victory the Colonials moved back into a two-way tie with Niagara for second place in College Hockey America with an overall record of 10-8-2 and a 4-2-1 conference mark. The Purple Eagles fall to 11-8-1 overall and to 5-3-1 in CHA play with the loss.
Chris Margott (Thousand Oaks, Calif. / Bay State Breakers) scored the game's first goal just 1:20 into the first session giving the Colonials an early, 1-0, lead. Sean Berkstresser (Apollo, Pa. / Pittsburgh Forge) and CHA leading scorer Ryan Cruthers (Farmingdale, N.Y. / Army) picked up assists on the play. Paul Zanette tied the game for Niagara with 4:59 left on the clock in the first period, with assists from Nate Bostic and Ryan Olidis.
Niagara scored 4:43 into the second period taking its only lead of the game with an Egor Mironov goal, Tyler Gotto and David Ross tallied assists on the play. RMU would then score six unanswered goals including second period tallies. Margott tallied his second goal of the game at the 10:09 mark with freshmen Denny Urban (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Ohio Blue Jackets) and Nathan Longpre (Peterborough, Ontario / Mahoning Valley Phantoms) tallying assists on the play. Brett Hopfe (Didsbury, Alberta / Olds Grizzlys) scored the game-winning goal 30 seconds later with Tom Biondich (International Falls, Minn. / Wichita Falls Rustlers) and J.C. Velasquez (Clarkson, Mich. / Green Bay Grumblers) tallying assists on the play. Berkstresser capped off the second period with a power-play marker at the 16:29 mark. Jason Towsley (La Salle, Ontario / Leamington Flyers) and Hopfe tallied assists on the play making the score 4-2 heading into the second intermission.
The Colonials notched three more goals in the final session, beginning with Biondich's fourth goal of the season at the 4:37 mark. Velasquez tallied his second goal of the season just 42 seconds later, with Hopfe and Rob Cowan (Calgary, Alberta / Olds Grizzlys) picking up the assists. David Boguslawski (Cottage Grove, Minn. / Tri-City Storm) made the score, 7-2, with the game's final goal with eight minutes left on the clock. Cruthers and Dave Cowan (Calgary, Alberta / Olds Grizzlys) added assists on the play.
Senior goalie Christian Boucher (Orleans, Ontario / Cumberland Grads) picked up his 10th victory of the season by allowing only two goals on 23 shots.
The Colonials outshot the Purple Eagles, 40-23, and went 1-for-8 on the power-play. RMU held Niagara to 1-for-5 on the power-play.
The Colonials do not return to action until Jan. 25 when they travel to Bemidji, Minn. for a key showdown with first-place Bemidji State.
Notes: The Colonials have scored 36 goals over there last six games ... Averaging six goals per game ... They have scored seven or more goals on three occasions during that span, including a program best 10 goals against American International ... RMU is 4-1-1 during this stretch.
