Hamden, Conn. ? On Saturday evening, the Robert Morris University men's ice hockey returned to action at TD Banknorth Center on the campus of Quinnipiac University. After a fast pace and high scoring game on Friday night, Saturday's match up continued with the same tone. Quinnipiac and Robert Morris each scored quick goals early in the first, but the Colonials were able to outlast the Bobcats on their way to an 8-5 victory.
The first period kicked off with Quinnipiac's goal at 13:51 when Greg Holt and Spencer Heichman connected with Scott Zurevinski to give the Bobcats an early 1-0 lead.
Just three minutes later, the Colonials answered as sophomore Nathan Longpre (Peterborough, Ontario / Mahoning Valley Phantoms) pushed the puck into the back of the net to tie the game at one with his power play goal. Assists on the goal, scored at 16:31 of the first, went to Chris Margott (Thousand Oaks, Calif. / Bay State Breakers) and Chris Kushneriuk (Ottawa, Ontario / Wayne State).
Continuing the back and forth style of play, the Bobcats reclaimed a 2-1 lead with Jean-Marc Beaudoin's goal at 18:40 in the first period. Beaudoin's goal was assisted by Zach Hansen and Andrew Myer.
Nineteen seconds into the second period, Quinnipiac extended its lead to two scores when David Marshall tallied his 14th of the year off of helpers from Eric Lampe and Brian Leitch.
But just one minute later, the Colonials begin their offensive charge. Once again on the power play, Margott netted his second point of the night to bring RMU back within one. Sophomore Denny Urban (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Ohio Blue Jackets) picked up his 14th assist of the season on the Colonial's second goal.
With only four minutes remaining in the second period, Robert Morris tied the game at three all with Jason Towsley's (LaSalle, Ontario / Leamington Flyers) fifth goal of 2008-09. Senior Matt Krug (Livonia, Mich. / Wayne State) and sophomore Kushneriuk assisted on the game tying goal.
The Colonials kept the goals coming just three minutes into the third period as freshman Cody Crichton (Palgrave, Ontario / Brampton Capitals) pushed the puck behind Bobcat's goalie, , for Robert Morris' fourth goal of the evening. Scott Kobialko (Spruce Grove, Ontario / Camrose Kodiaks) and Brandon Blandina (Centennial, Colo. / Indiana Ice) recorded assists on the goal scored at 3:02.
Twenty five seconds later, Robert Morris added a fifth goal at 3:27 of the third as Kushneriuk tacked on another off of assists from seniors Towsley and Krug.
Holding a 5-3 lead, the Colonials lit the lamp for the sixth time of the night and third time in just one minute when Margott scored his second of the evening with the assistance of his line mates, Longpre and Trevor Lewis (Lititz, Pa. / Syracuse Stars) at 3:54 in the third.
With three goals in under a one minute time span, RMU took advantage of a five-on-four situation and hit home a seventh goal at 4:56. Lewis, assisted by Kushneriuk and Margott, tallied his third of the year to push the Colonial lead to 7-4.
But the Bobcats refused to go away quietly. Shorthanded at 8:10 of the third period, Beaudoin put away his second score of the contest with assists from Mike Atkinson and Dan Henningson.
Back at even strength play, Quinnipiac would shrink the Colonial's lead to only two with Chris Meyers' fourth of the year. Helpers on the goal went to Lampe and Zurevinski.
Eager to seal the road victory, Margott picked up his third goal of the night to record his first hat trick of the season with an empty net goal. The goal, scored with under 30 seconds left in play, was assisted by Longpre and junior Dave Cowan (Calgary, Alberta / Olds Grizzlies).
Quinnipiac transfer and Robert Morris junior goaltender, Wes Russell (Springfield, Ill. / Quinnipiac), made 32 saves in his fifth victory of the year. The Colonials were an impressive four-for-five on the power play for the night as they edged the Bobcats 39-37 on shots.
Margott was awarded the first star of the game award for his three goal, two assist performance. Longpre nabbed the second star as he scored one goal two assists in Saturday's contest. He also scored one goal and one assist in Friday's match up.
After picking up their fifth win of the 2008-09 season, the Colonials hope to continue their road success at nationally ranked Princeton University on Monday evening. Robert Morris will face the #9 Tigers in a 7:00 p.m. tilt at the historic Hobey Baker rink.
