Bemidji, Minn. ? Led by a pair of third-period goals by Ryan Cruthers (Farmingdale, N.Y. / Army) the Robert Morris University men's ice hockey team skated to a, 2-2, tie with Bemidji State Friday night at the John Glas Fieldhouse. The Colonials are now 10-8-3 overall and 5-2-2 in CHA play, while the Beavers are now 11-11-3 overall and 8-2-3 in CHA action.

The game remained scoreless for the first 38:55 seconds until Matt Pope scored a power-play goal with just 1:55 left in the second period. Brandon Marino tallied the lone assist in the play.

After only scoring one goal through two periods, the two teams combined for three goals in the third period of play. Cruthers opened the scoring at the 2:39 mark with his 14th goal of the season. Jason Towsley (La Salle, Ontario / Leamington Flyers) and Sean Berkstresser (Apollo, Pa. / Pittsburgh Forge) tallied assists on the play. Bemidji State retook the lead, making the score, 2-1, with Pope's second goal of the game. Marino and Blaine Jarvis tallied the assists on the play. Cruthers tallied his second goal of the game, making the score 2-2 at the 11:17 mark. Towsley and Berkstresser both tallied assists on the play.

Neither team was able to score in the overtime period with RMU outshooting Bemidji State 3-2 in the extra session. For the game, Bemidji State outshot Robert Morris 42-30 and held the Colonials to 0-for-4 with the man advantage. The Beavers converted on only one of their seven power-play chances.

Christian Boucher (Orleans, Ontario / Cumberland Grads) made 40 saves in net for the Colonials, while Matt Climie stopped 28 Colonial shots.

The Colonials and Beavers will end their two-game series tomorrow night as they face-off at 7:05 p.m.

Notes: Senior Ryan Cruthers was named a captain Friday by head coach Derek Schooley before the teams game with Bemidji State. Cruthers earns this honor after Joel Gasper was injured against Niagara and is expected to miss up to six weeks of action.