Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. ? The Robert Morris University men's ice hockey returned to action at the Tabby Abel Arena Saturday night and earned a split in its series with Lake Superior State with a 4-3 victory. The Colonials snap a four-game losing streak with the win and pick up their first victory on the road in 2008.
Lake Superior State once again tallied the first goal of the evening when Dan Batczuk put in a rebound on the left side of the net. Steven Oleksy and Chad Nehring had the assists for the Lakers on the goal at 7:08 in the first period.
After the Lakers goal, the Colonials took control of the puck and gained momentum with three power plays opportunities. In a lucky break, the puck struck an official's skate causing it to take a bounce. Freshman forward, Brandon Blandina (Centennial, Colo. / Indiana Ice) was able to scoop up the deflection, push the puck past Laker goalie Brian Mahoney-Wilson and tie the game at one all. The unassisted goal at 13:57 was the first of Blandina's collegiate carrer.
Much like the end of Friday's game, Robert Morris held the edge offensively, outshooting the Lakers 11-8 in the first period. Junior goaltender Wes Russell (Springfield, Ill. / Quinnipiac) made his eleventh appearance of the season tallying seven saves in the opening period of play.
Early in the second, the Colonials took their first lead of the weekend with Jason Towsley's (LaSalle, Ontario / Leamington Flyers) second goal of the year at the 3:32 mark. Sophomore forwards Scott Kobialko (Spruce Grove, Alberta / Camrose Kodiaks) and Nathan Longpre (Peterborough, Ontario / Mahoning Valley Phantoms) were awarded the assists on the score which made the score 2-1, Colonials.
At 4:54 of the second period, Towsley netted his second goal of the night and his third goal of the season off a rebound from a shot by James Lyle (Nepean, Ontario / Smiths Falls Bears). The second goal in under a minute for Robert Morris extended the Colonial's lead to 3-1.
Even with RMU holding its first lead of the series, the Lakers were not ready to give up the fight. With 23 seconds to go in the second period, Lake Superior State was back within one with Fred Cassiani's score off of assists from Josh Sim and Simon Gysbers.
Less than 30 seconds later, the Lakers evened the score at three all. Nathan Perkovich recorded the third goal for Lake Superior State off assists from Steven Kaunisto and Gysbers with under a minute remaining in the contest.
However, the deadlock would be short lived. Colonial's leading scorer Chris Margott (Thousand Oaks, Ca. / Bay State Breakers) blasted a shot past Mahoney-Wilson to pick up the game winner with 28 seconds left to play. Margott's fifth goal of the 2008-09 season was assisted by Longpre and freshman forward Trevor Lewis (Lititz, Pa. / Syracuse Stars).
Russell made 36 saves on the night, tying his season high which he set against Ferris State in October . The Laker's outshot the Colonials 39-30 overall. Both teams failed to score a power play goal as RMU went 0-5 on power play chances.
The Colonials (3-7-2 ; 1-0-1 CHA) will have a weekend off before they return home to play CHA rival Niagara at the Island Sports Center on Friday, December 5 at 7:05 p.m.
