Pittsburgh, Pa. –The Robert Morris University men's hockey team dropped its third straight contest on Wednesday against conference rival Niagara. In a 5-0 blanking at the RMU Island Sports Center, the Purple Eagles scored one goal in the first period and added two goals in both the second and third periods to earn the shutout.

The loss drops the Colonials to 3-9-1 overall and 1-3-1 in CHA play, while Niagara improves to 2-8-2 and 1-1-1 in conference play.

The Colonials and the Purple Eagles skated through over 11 minutes in the first period before a score was made.  After Dave Cowan (Calgary, Alberta / Olds Grizzlys) was called for tripping, Niagara's Chris Moran capitalized on the power play opportunity by ripping a shot over the glove of sophomore goalie Brooks Ostergard (Chagrin Falls, Ohio / Bay State Breakers). The goal was set up by NU's Wes Consorti , who shot the puck wide to the far side of the ice. Ryan Olidis picked up the loose puck and handed it off to Moran to make the score.

In the second period the Purple Eagles outshot the Colonials 20-10, which was made evident by the score.  The Purple Eagles increased their lead to 2-0 at 6:15 in the period when Ryan Olidis took off on a break-away during a Colonial power-play and rifled a shot into the Colonial net from the top of the face-off circle on the near-side of the ice. Moran and Jim Burichin assisted on the short-handed play.

The Purple Eagles pulled away to a 3-0 lead at 10:24 when Brent Vanderberg found a pass from Chris Moran and skated through the Colonial defensemen and tossed the puck into the right side of the net. Ryan Annesley also assisted on the play. After the third NU goal, Ostergard was replaced in net by freshman Eric Levine (Wheeling, Ill. / Pembroke Lumber Kings).

Four minutes into the third period Bryan Haczyk flipped the biscuit into the Colonial cross-bar and the rebound was tapped in by David Ross to give Niagara a 4-0 advantage. Paul Zanette captured the second assist.

Finally with less than two minutes to go, Niagara closed out the win with a fifth goal from Sam Goodwin.

Niagara recorded 55 shots as they downed the Colonials who tallied 38 shots of their own.  Ostergard made 21 saves while Levine stopped 29 shots.

Robert Morris will now enjoy a nine-day hiatus before hosting CHA foe, Alabama-Huntsville on Dec. 4-5 at the RMU Island Sports Center.