Pittsburgh, Pa. – The Robert Morris University men's hockey team upset the No. 1 Miami (Ohio) RedHawks at the Fourth Annual Pittsburgh College Hockey Showcase on Friday evening at Mellon Arena. In front of a crowd of 3,700, the Colonials earned their very first win over an opponent that currently sits atop of the national polls with their impressive, 3-1 victory.
Miami immediately took an advantage with their large, physical presence as they dominated puck control early in the contest. However, the Colonial penalty-kill unit came up big as they blocked five shots on Miami's lone man-advantage in the opening period.
During the penalty-kill, the Colonials took a 1-0 lead thanks to a short handed tally from Chris Kushneriuk (Ottawa, Ontario / Wayne State) at the tail end of the first period. His second short-handed score of the 2009-10 campaign was recorded with 21 seconds left in the first period to send RMU into the first intermission with the one goal advantage. At the end of the first session, the RedHawks held the edge on shots, 11-6.
Robert Morris saw the second period open with a five-on-three situation as the RedHawks evened the score with a power play goal from Carter Camper at 5:54. Assists on Camper's game-tying goal were given to Chris Wideman and Tommy Wingels.
For the remainder of the second, RMU sophomore goalie, Brooks Ostergard (Chagrin Falls, Ohio / Bay State Breakers) came up with 14 stellar saves to keep the score deadlocked as the Colonials and RedHawks headed into the third period at a one-all stalemate.
Determined the regain their lead, the Colonials returned to the ice with a high level of intensity and scored two goals in just the first six minutes of the third. At the 5:02 mark, senior J.C. Velasquez (Clarkson, Mich. / Green Bay Gamblers) netted RMU's game winning score with assists from Cody Crichton (Palgrave, Ontario / Brampton Capitals) and Nick Chiavetta (Harrisburg, Pa. / New York Applecore) to put the Colonials up, 2-1.
Just 1:11 later, freshman Stefan Salituro (Willodale, Ontario, Mahoning Valley Phantoms) extended the Robert Morris lead to 3-1 as he beat RedHawk netminder, Cody Reichard, with his second goal of the season. Junior Denny Urban (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Ohio Blue Jackets) and freshman Zach Hervato (Stittsville, Ontario / Smiths Falls Bears) had the helpers on Salituro's goal at 6:13.
Still with over 14 minutes to play in the contest, Ostergard and the RMU penalty-kill unit shut down the Miami offense as they killed off two penalties late in the third to seal the win.
Ostergard tallied 39 saves as he led RMU to their fourth win of the season. Overall, the Colonials were outshot, 40-24, but held the Miami power-play unit to just one score on five chances.
Robert Morris (4-12-3 ; 1-4-2 CHA) will enjoy a one day rest before traveling to Oxford, Ohio to close out the home-and-home series with the RedHawks at 4:05 p.m. on Sunday afternoon.
