Bemidji, Minn. ? Looking to close out the regular season on a high note, the Robert Morris University men's hockey team traveled north to face the Beavers of Bemidji State University for the fifth time in just five weeks. Late in the first period, the Colonials took a 1-0 lead as they continued their unbeaten streak and extended it to seven games as they beat BSU, 3-2.
"We played hard, once again had good goaltending and our penalty killing was excellent, " said head coach Derek Schooley. "We got timely production from Margott and Towsley and we showed a great deal of character by playing so well in a difficult place."
CHA Defensive Player of the Week, Brooks Ostergard (Chagrin Falls, Ohio / Bay State Breakers), made his ninth consecutive start in net for Robert Morris on Friday night. He stopped 12 shots in the first period while the Colonials managed to put five shots on goal.
With two minutes left to play in the first, senior Jason Towsley (LaSalle, Ontario / Leamington Flyers) netted his ninth score of the 2008-09 season. Assists on the goal were awarded to Brock Meadows (White Rock, B.C. / Wayne State) and Scott Kobialko (Spruce Grove, Alberta / Camrose Kodiaks) at 18:09.
The second period was relatively quiet except for quite a few penalty minutes issued to both squads. Although the Colonials had a few power play opportunities to extend their lead to two, they were unable to do so in the second.
Ostergard made another four saves and the RMU offense tallied an additional 10 shots on goal. By not allowing a goal in the second, Ostergard extended his streak to five consecutive shutout periods.
The Colonials finally got their second goal of the night off a Beaver turnover. Senior Chris Margott (Thousand Oaks, Calif. / Bay State Breakers), the CHA's top scorer, lit the lamp at 5:50 of the third period with an assist from freshman Trevor Lewis (Lititz, Pa. / Syracuse Stars).
However, the two goal lead would be short lived. Bemidji's Matt Francis recorded the Beaver's first of the game at 7:10. Assists on Francis' goal were picked up by Tyler Scofield and Brad Hunt.
RMU added its third score off of a one timer from Margott and solid connections from sophomores Denny Urban (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Ohio Blue Jackets) and Nathan Longpre (Peterborough, Ontario / Mahoning Valley Phantoms) at 12:14. Margott's power play goal was his 18th score of the year.
Even with time dwindling, the Beavers refused to go away. Francis picked up a rebound in front of the Colonial net to push the puck past Ostergard and bring BSU back to within one. Matt Read and Hunt were awarded the assists on the goal.
Ostergard finished the night with 28 saves while the team finished with 28 shots on the Beaver goal.
The Colonials (9-17-7 ; 5-7-5 CHA) will finish the 2008-09 regular season tomorrow night in their second game against the Beavers at John S. Glas Fieldhouse. The matchup is set for a 7:05 p.m.(CST) tilt.
