Niagara Falls, NY - On Friday night, the Robert Morris University men's hockey team traveled to Dwyer Arena on the campus of Niagara University to face CHA rival, Niagara, for their first meeting of the 2009-10 season. The game got off to a fast and furious start as three goals were scored within the first six minutes of play. However, it was the Colonials who managed to stay on top and outlast the Purple Eagles, 5-3.
Only 47 seconds into the contest, junior forward Chris Kushneriuk (Ottawa, Ontario / Wayne State University) pushed a quick shot behind Niagara netminder, Andrew Hare, to give the Colonials the early 1-0 advantage. Freshman Zach Hervato (Stittsville, Ontario / Smiths Falls Bears) and junior defenseman Denny Urban (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Ohio Blue Jackets) nabbed the helpers on RMU's first goal of the night.
Just three minutes later, NU's Chris Moran deadlocked the game at one all with his first of the year. But the tie was short lived, as sophomore Nick Chiavetta (Harrisburg, Pa. / New York Applecore) netted an unassisted marker at 6:05 of the first period. Chiavetta's goal was his second of the year.
Unlike the blistering pace of the first period, the second got off to a much slower start during the opening few minutes. At 11:34, the Colonial offense continued to fire away as Kushneriuk lit the lamp for the second time of the night. Assists on the goal were awarded to senior captain Dave Cowan (Calgary, Alberta / Olds Grizzlys) and junior Nathan Longpre (Peterborough, Ontario / Mahoning Valley Phantoms).
Niagara continued to blast shot after shot, and finally broke through with their second power play goal of the night from Ryan Oledis to cut the Colonial lead to one goal just minutes before the end of the second period.
At end of the second, Robert Morris held the 3-2 lead despite Niagara holding the edge on shots, 30-22.
In the third period, the Purple Eagles quickly found their stride as they tied the game at three all seven minutes in. The game tying score, netted by Brent Vandenberg, found the game at a stalemate for the second time of the night.
Just when it began to look like the Colonials had lost their edge, Kushneriuk once again came up big for RMU to silence a boisterous NU crowd. Off a rebound from his own skate, the junior forward recorded his first career hat trick as he squeezed the puck behind Hare to put Robert Morris back on top, 4-3. Once more, Cowan and Longpre earned the helpers on what would be Kushneriuk's game winning goal at the 11:12 mark of the third period.
Still not satisfied, Robert Morris added a fifth goal with 3:18 remaining in the contest thanks to junior Scott Kobialko (Spruce Grove, Alberta / Camrose Kodialks) who recorded his third of the year. The assists on the goal were awarded to sophomores Furman South (Sewickley, Pa. / Bay State Breakers) and Ron Cramer (New Wilmington, Pa. / Indiana Ice).
Sophomore Brooks Ostergard (Chagrin Falls, Ohio / Bay State Breakers) started between the pipes for RMU and made 38 stops in a solid performance that included several key saves to secure the win.
Overall, the Colonials were outshot, 41-34, and were zero-for-one in their only power play chance during the first period.
Tomorrow night, Robert Morris (3-6-0 ; 1-2-0 CHA) will play the second half of the home-and-home series with Niagara at the RMU Island Sports Center. The game is set for a 7:05 p.m. tilt.
