Colorado Springs, Colo. – The Robert Morris University men's hockey team made its first-ever trip to Colorado College's World Arena as they faced off against the #7 Tigers on Friday evening. The game saw an exciting start and finish, however penalties proved to be costly as Colorado College used the advantages to edge the Colonials, 4-3.
Only 1:45 into the contest, sophomore Trevor Lewis (Lititz, Pa. / Syracuse Stars) was awarded a penalty shot. However, freshman Tiger netminder, Joe Howe, came up with a big save to prevent RMU from taking the early lead.
Colorado College put their potent offense into motion as they notched the first goal of the evening at 13:25 thanks to Nick Dineen. Dineen's goal off a rebound gave the Tigers the 1-0 lead.
Less than two minutes later, Robert Morris evened the game at one when Scott Kobialko (Spruce Grove, Alberta / Camrose Kodiaks) picked up his fourth tally of the season. Lewis would earn his first point of the night with the assist.
With only seconds remaining in the first, junior Nathan Longpre (Peterborough, Ontario / Mahoning Valley Phantoms) picked up a double minor for two tripping penalties. The two penalties allowed CC to close out the first period and open the second one-man-up.
Beginning the second period on the man-advantage, the Tigers quickly netted a go ahead goal as Gabe Guentzel hit a top shelf shot to put CC up, 2-1, only 54 seconds into action.
The Colonials continued to battle, and found themselves on a power play midway through the second. Under a minute into the advantage, Lewis deflected in a shot to deadlock the contest for the second time. Junior Chris Kushneriuk (Ottawa, Ontario / Wayne State) and sophomore Furman South (Sewickley, Pa. / Bay State Breakers) earned helpers on RMU's second of the night.
But the stalemate was again short lived as the Tigers regained a 3-2 lead almost exactly two minutes later. The CC even-strength goal was credited to Kris Fredheim, his second of the season.
The third period got off to a quiet start as the Tigers continued to hold onto their one-score lead. With five minutes remaining in the contest, Kushneriuk pulled away the puck from Howe when he moved out of the net deep in the CC zone. Kushneriuk then sailed it across to Kobialko for a goal. Kobialko's second of the night gave both he and Kusherniuk their second points of the game.
Under a minute later, RMU would pick up its fifth penalty of the game to put CC back on the power-play. Once again, the Tigers would convert to claim their second power-play goal from Mike Testwuide for the 4-3 win.
The Colonials received a strong performance from sophomore goaltender, Brooks Ostergard (Chagrin Falls, Ohio / Bay State Breakers), who made a personal best 46 saves. Overall, RMU was outshot 50-29.
The two teams will go at it again tomorrow night as Robert Morris and #7 Colorado College compete in their second contest of the weekend. The puck will drop at 7:07 p.m. (MT).
