Fairbanks, Alaska - On the second day of the Brice Alaska Goal Rush Tournament, the Robert Morris University men's hockey team faced a second opponent from the 49th state, UA-Anchorage, at the Carlson Center late Saturday afternoon. The Colonial offense fired on all cylinders as they took advantage of power play opportunities and downed the Seawolves, 5-3 in a fast paced and penalty filled contest.
With just six seconds remaining in the first period, junior Scott Kobialko (Spruce Grove, Alberta / Camrose Kodiaks) scored the first goal of night short handed to propel RMU to an early, 1-0 lead. Fellow junior forwards Chris Kushneriuk (Ottawa, Ontario / Wayne State) and Nathan Longpre (Peterborough, Ontario / Mahoning Valley Phantoms) registered helpers on the goal.
The Seawolves answered with their first score 4:20 into the second with a Curtis Leinweber power play goal. After the UA-Anchorage goal, the second session would spiral into an up and down battle for the remainder period.
But the deadlock was short lived as Robert Morris took a 2-1 lead as a result of a five-on-three advantage. Sophomore Trevor Lewis (Lititz, Pa. / Syracuse Stars) found the back of the net after he connected with Kushneriuk and Denny Urban (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Ohio Blue Jackets) at the 7:16 mark.
Neither team managed to steal momentum as the Seawolves tied the contest again, this time at two, with an even strength goal from Nick Haddad at 9:54.
Once more, the Colonials reclaimed the lead as Brandon Blandina (Centennial, Colo. / Indiana Ice) lit the lamp with a third RMU goal. Blandina's goal, scored at 12:13 of the second, featured assists from fellow sophomores Furman South (Sewickley, Pa. / Bay State Breakers ) and Ron Cramer (New Wilmington, Pa. / Indiana Ice).
A man down, UA-Anchorage evened the score at three all thanks to a short handed tally from Kevin Clark at 16:41.
Not ready to give up, the Colonials surged back to take a 4-3 lead two minutes later with an Urban one timer. Urban's second of the year was assisted by Longpre and South.
At 12:13 of the third, sophomore Nick Chiavetta (Harrisburg, Pa. / New York Applecore) knocked a rebound into the top of the net for his first career goal. Josh Jones (Scenery Hill, Pa. / Hawkesbury Hawks) and Tom Brooks (St. Louis, Mo. / St. Louis Bandits) earned helpers on the goal. Brooks picked up his first career point with the secondary assist.
Sophomore Brooks Ostergard (Chagrin Falls, Ohio / Bay State Breakers) once again made the start in net as he tallied 24 saves in the first Robert Morris victory of the 2009 season.
The Colonials (1-1-0 ; 0-0-0 CHA) will continue their opening road trip next weekend in Big Rapids, Mich. at Ferris State University. Robert Morris and FSU will tangle Fri., Oct. 23 at 7:05 p.m. and Sat., Oct. 24 at 5:05 p.m.
