Huntsville, Ala. ? For the fourth time during the 2008-09 season, the Robert Morris University men's ice hockey team tangled with the Chargers of Alabama-Huntsville. Although UAH jumped out to a 2-0 lead midway through the second period, the Colonials surged late in the game to tie the contest at two all.
The first period was a relatively quiet one at the Von Braun Center where sophomore Jim Patterson (Kamloops, B.C. / Canmore Eagles) received the starting nod in goal for the second time this season. Patterson made eight saves in the first period while the Colonial offense fired off 18 shots.
The Chargers wasted no time getting on the board in the second period as Tom Train notched his second of the year, and UAH's first of the afternoon only 30 seconds into play. Assists on the goal went to Matt Sweezey and Brandon Roshko.
At the 15:12 mark of the second period, junior Kevin Morrison put the Chargers up by two with his power play goal from Joey Koudy and Neil Ruffini. Morrison's goal was his third of 2008-09.
Robert Morris finally lit the lamp at 17:31 when sophomore forward Chris Kushneriuk (Ottawa, Ontario / Wayne State) picked up his fourth of the season and brought the Colonials within one on the power play. Sophomores Kyle Burton (Calgary, Alberta / Calgary Canucks) and Denny Urban (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Ohio Blue Jackets) recorded the assists on RMU's first goal.
The second period closed with RMU leading shots 28 to 22, as they went one for four on the power play.
Senior defenseman Matt Krug (Livonia, Mich. / Wayne State) locked the game at two apiece five minutes into the third period with another power play goal at 5:06. Urban picked up his second assist of the game and fourth point of the weekend on Krug's goal. Sophomore Nathan Longpre (Peterborough, Ontario / Mahoning Valley Phantoms) was awarded a secondary assist.
The Colonials would kill off two Charger power plays and have one of their own, but the score ended in a 2-2 deadlock at the end of regulation.
In overtime, RMU did not record a single shot on goal in the five minute period. Alabama-Huntsville recorded three shots in OT, but Patterson came up with all three saves.
Robert Morris put 40 shots on goal in the conference match up and Patterson recorded a total of 25 saves in his fourth appearance of the season.
Next weekend, the Colonials (4-11-4 ; 1-3-2 CHA) will see a short break in the action before they continue in the second half of their five game road stand against Quinnipiac. Robert Morris will take on the Bobcats on Friday and Saturday, January 23-24 before they travel to Princeton on Monday, January 26.
