Moon Township, Pa. - The Robert Morris University men's ice hockey team defeated College Hockey America leading Bemidji State, 4-1, Friday night at the RMU Island Sports Center. With the victory the Colonials improve to 14-11-3 overall and to 9-4-2 in CHA play, while the Beavers fall to 13-13-3 overall and to 10-4-3 in CHA action.
The Colonials outshot the Beavers, 12-5, in the first period but trailed, 1-0, at the end of the period. Blaine Jarvis pushed the puck passed a stretched out Christian Boucher (Orleans, Ontario / Cumberland Grads) after receiving a cross ice pass from Matt Francis. Matt Pope picked up the second assist on the play.
Robert Morris put three unanswered goals on the board in the second session. Logan Bittle (Peoria, Ill. / Soo Indians) got things started at the 7:37 mark, when he beat Matt Climie on a rap around after receiving the puck from Scott Kobialko (Spruce Grove, Alberta / Camrose Kodiaks). Sean Berkstresser (Apollo, Pa. / Pittsburgh Forge) tallied his ninth of the season just 5:06 later giving RMU a, 2-1, lead at the 12:43 mark. Dave Cowan (Calgary, Alberta / Olds Grizzlys) and Denny Urban (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Ohio Blue Jackets) picked up assists on the play. The Colonials capped off the period with a goal with just 49 seconds left on the clock when Tom Biondich (International Falls, Minn. / Wichita Falls Rustlers) scored giving RMU a, 3-1, lead with Nathan Longpre (Peterborough, Ontario / Mahoning Valley Phantoms) and Jason Towsley (La Salle, Ontario / Leamington Flyers) tallying assists.
The Colonials put a fourth goal on the board when Ryan Cruthers (Farmingdale, N.Y. / Army) scored his 19th goal of the season shorthanded giving RMU a, 4-1, lead. Bittle tallied a helper on the play.
Boucher made 22 saves on 23 shots, while Climie allowed four goals on 35 Colonial shots.
RMU outshot Bemidji State 35-23, while the two teams went a combined 0-for-6 on the power-play.
The two teams finish their weekend series tomorrow when they return to action at 7:35 p.m. at the Island Sports Center.
