p.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin-top:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:10.0pt; margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; }

Pittsburgh, Pa. – The Robert Morris University men's hockey team returned to action on Saturday night at the RMU Island Sports Center for the second half of its home-and-home series against the Purple Eagles of Niagara University.  After a slow first period, the two teams scored a combined five goals in the second as RMU and NU deadlocked at three for the third time in their last five meetings.

Unlike last night's contest at Niagara, the first period got off to a quiet start with shots totaling 11-10, in RMU's favor.  Robert Morris also had a power play opportunity where they put two shots on goal.

The second period saw an immediate pick up in action as the scoring commenced nearly immediately.  For the second consecutive night, the Colonials were the first to get on the board as junior Nathan Longpre (Peterborough, Ontario / Mahoning Valley Phantoms) netted his seventh of the year to give Robert Morris the early lead.  Junior Chris Kushneriuk (Ottawa, Ontario / Wayne State University) notched his sixth assist of the season with the helper on Longpre's goal 59 seconds into the second.

But Niagara would storm back quickly with three straight goals to claim their first lead of the weekend.  Brendan Sheehan recorded his first of the year to tie the game at one at 4:44 of the second.  Under two minutes later, the Purple Eagle's Egor Mironov also got on the board with a power play score to put NU up 2-1. 

Niagara kept the goals coming as Paul Zanette found the back of net to extend the Purple Eagle lead to 3-1 at 7:59.  The third goal marked Niagara's third score in just three minutes.

But just before the end of the fast and furious second period, Longpre would beat NU netminder, Adam Avramenko, for a second time to bring the Colonials back within one.  Defenseman Denny Urban (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Ohio Blue Jackets) and Kushneriuk both were awarded assists at the 16:56 mark of the second.

With time beginning to run low in the third period, the Colonials found themselves struggling to get back into the game.  But they finally got exactly what they needed when sophomore Trevor Lewis (Lititz, Pa. / Syracuse Stars) broke free to flash down the ice and beat Avramentko glove side with only 3:55 left in the game.  In his first game as a Colonial, freshman Stefan Salituro (Willodale, Ontario / Mahoning Valley Phantoms) earned his first career point with the assist

RMU continued to pressure the NU netminder with a flurry of shots, but regulation ended in a 3-3 tie forcing the match-up into an overtime period. 

In OT, the Colonials put three shots on net, while the Purple Eagles were only able to get one shot in the five minute overtime.

Brooks Ostergard (Chagrin Falls, Ohio / Bay State Breakers), RMU's second-year goaltender, got the starting nod for the sixth time this season.  He recorded 35 saves in his fourth career tie.

The Colonials now own a record of 3-6-1  and 1-0-1 in CHA play.  They will travel to #10 Colorado College next week for their first ever series against the Tigers.  Friday's game is set to begin at 7:37 p.m. (MST).