Cleveland, Ohio ? After hosting a game at home against Niagara last evening, the Robert Morris University Colonials went on the road to finish off the second half of their two-game series with the Ohio State Buckeyes. Picking up where they left off in the first game, the Buckeyes had no trouble finding the back of the net as they defeated Robert Morris, 7-4.
Only 30 seconds into the game, the Buckeyes struck for the first time of the night as C.J. Severyn tallied his second score of the year. The unassisted goal, scored at the :34 mark, came on a picked off clearing attempt as it gave the Buckeyes a 1-0 lead.
Ohio State lit the lamp for the second time at 16:17 when Sergio Somma hit a hard shot behind Colonial goaltender, Wes Russell (Springfield, Ill. / Quinnipiac) for his third goal of the 2008-09 season. Assists on the goal were awarded to Peter Boyd and Shane Sims.
Robert Morris had two, five-on-three opportunities in the first period, but only managed to get off nine shots as they came up empty handed. Overall, Robert Morris was 0-4 on power plays in the first period.
The Buckeyes wasted little time in the second, adding their third goal of the day at 7:33. Serveryn notched his second goal of game as his knocked the puck past Russell to extend the Ohio State lead to three. Helpers on the third Buckeye goal were awarded to Cory Scneider and Kyle Reed.
The Colonials finally got on the board when leading scorer, Chris Margott (Thousand Oaks, Ca. / Bay State Breakers) ripped a shot past Ohio State goalie, Dustin Carlson to make the score 3-1 at 11:00 in the second. Sophomore Nathan Longpre (Peterborough, Ontario / Mahoning Valley Phantoms) and freshman Josh Jones (Scenery Hill, Pa. / Hawkesbury Hawks) recorded the assists.
Robert Morris attempted to keep the momentum on their side as Longpre netted his second point of the game and fifth goal of the season to cut the deficit to only one. The power play goal, scored at 13:08, gave Margott his second point of the game with an assist. Also, sophomore Denny Urban (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Ohio Blue Jackets) picked up his seventh assist of the season
However, the Colonials momentum swing would be short lived as Ohio State struck back with two quick scores. On a power play, Sims recorded his first goal of the year to extend the Buckeye lead back to two. Senior John Albert and sophomore Sergio had assists on the goal scored at 16:54 of the second.
Less than one minute later, the Buckeyes made the score 5-2 with Zac Dalphe's eigth goal of the season tallied at 17:31. Albert picked up his second point of the game with the assist. After the goal, Russell was replaced in net by freshman Brooks Ostergard (Chagrin Falls, Ohio / Bay State Breakers).
Just when third period seemed to see a slowdown in pace, the offensive barrage began again. Ohio State made the score 6-2 as Boyd found the back of the net even though he was tangled in traffic in front of the net. Boyd's goal at 14:11, was helped by assists from Reed and Patrick Schafer.
But the Colonials refused to give up. Junior Dave Cowan (Calgary, Alberta / Olds Grizzlys) scored his first of the year when he slipped a deflection past Carlson for the third RMU goal of the night. J.C. Velasquez (Clarksen, Mich. / Green Bay Gamblers) and Jake Obermeyer (Chanhassen, Minn. / Tri-City Storm) were awarded assists on the goal.
The back and forth action would continue for the remainder of the game when the Buckeyes tallied their seventh and final goal. Boots found Hunter Bishop in front of the net where he was able to sneak one past Ostergard and make the score 7-3.
Two minutes and 25 seconds later, the Colonials trying to keep with the furious offensive pace notched their fourth goal. With a man advantage on the power play, senior Matt Krug (Livonia, Mich. / Wayne State) hit a hard shot into Carlson which deflected onto the stick of Longpre and eventually to Kyle Burton (Calgary, Alberta / Calgary Canucks) who hit the puck into the net. The goal was Robert Morris' second power play tally of the night.
Russell saw time in goal for the first 37:31 minutes, allowing five goals and making 21 saves. In 22:29 minute of play, Ostergard allowed two goals and made 12 stops. The Buckeyes outshot the Colonials 40-31, however RMU held the edge in the third period.
Robert Morris (3-9-2 ; 1-1-1 CHA) will travel to the campus of Niagara University on Saturday, December 13 to take on the Purple Eagles for the second time in 2008. Face off at Dwyer Arena is set for 7:05 p.m.
