Pittsburgh, Pa. ? On Sunday afternoon at the Robert Morris University Island Sports Center, the RMU Colonials looked for their first series sweep of the 2008-09 season after an impressive shutout victory over Bemdji State Saturday night. Although the Beavers took an early lead, the Colonials fought back to tie the CHA's best team in overtime.
The Beavers wasted little time in the first period as Ryan Cramer took a 1-0 lead just 3:23 into play. Bemidji State's first goal of the weekend was assisted by Ben Kinne and Ryan Adams.
BSU extended their lead to 2-0 at 15:51 of the first period. Senior Travis Winter connected on a power play goal from Cody Bostock and Brandon Marino.
However, the Colonials would cut the deficit in half in a four-on-four situation as Chris Margott (Thousand Oaks, Calif. / Bay State Breakers) tallied his seventeenth of the season to put RMU on the board at 18:05. Off the faceoff, Margott passed to freshman Trevor Lewis (Lititz, Pa. / Syracuse Stars) who found Margott back down ice to slap the puck behind BSU's Matt Dalton.
Early in the second, Robert Morris had a five-on-three power play for a full two minutes. The Colonials came close with several shots but came up empty handed. Just seconds after returning to full strength, the Beavers added a third goal.
At 13:51, BSU's Marino hit Chris McKelvie on a breakaway as the Beavers lit the lamp for the third time of the afternoon. A secondary assist was awarded to Brad Hunt as Bemidji State extended its lead to 3-1.
But RMU was not ready to call it a game. At 14:03 of the second, sophomore Chris Kushneriuk (Ottawa, Ontario / Wayne State) brought the Colonials within one on his eighth goal of the year. Assists on the goal were awarded to senior Jason Towsley (LaSalle, Ontario / Leamington Flyers) and sophomore Scott Kobialko (Spruce Grove, Alberta / Camrose Kodiaks).
Just forty seconds later Robert Morris deadlocked the game at three all. Margott won the draw in the Beavers zone to hit Nathan Longpre (Peterborough, Ontario / Mahoning Valley Phantoms) at the top of the circle where he struck with a hard shot. The goal, recorded at 14:41, was Longpre's eighth of the year.
Entering into the third period, Robert Morris had posted 30 shots while BSU had put 22 shots on goal. In net, freshman Brooks Ostergard (Chagrin Falls, Ohio / Bay State Breakers) had picked up 19 saves in the first two periods.
With neither team able to score in the third period despite numerous chances, the two teams were forced to a five minute overtime period.
Robert Morris recorded two shots in the overtime period, but failed to notch a game winning score.
Overall, Ostergard made 32 stops between the pipes in his first career tie. The Colonials went zero-for-four on the power play.
Robert Morris (6-17-5 ; 2-7-5 CHA) will head to Alabama-Huntsville for another CHA series this Friday and Saturday. Friday's game will be a 7:00 p.m. start while Saturday is set for a 5:00 p.m. tilt.
