The Colonials (12-6-2, 7-5-2) fell behind early to the Fighting Sioux (15-5-2, 11-3-0) and never recovered. North Dakota scored three goals in the first, three in the second and added two in the third.

"I don't think the score indicates the play of the game today," head men's ice hockey coach Derek Schooley said. "We had some bad bounces that put us behind the eight ball but that is going to happen to you sometimes in the game of hockey."

North Dakota ran out to an early first period lead with a goal credited to Corban Knight 1:26 into the first period. Brock Nelson made it a two score game at the 6:24 mark of the first period and Knight stretched the lead to three with a hard slap shot at 16:12 of the period. Brooks Ostergard (Chagrin Falls, Ohio / Bay State Breakers) made 16 saves in the first frame.  

The Fighting Sioux added three more goals in the second period getting scores from Brett Hextall, Jake Marto and Matt Frattin. Following the fifth goal of the game by North Dakota Eric Levine (Wheeling, Ill. / Pembroke Lumber Kings) replaced Ostergard in net and played the remainder of the game.

Evan Trupp and Nelson posted the final two scores of game, both coming in the third period. Levine finished the game with 13 saves. Robert Morris went 0-of-5 on the power play and 1-of-4 on the penalty kill.

Robert Morris and North Dakota return to action tomorrow with faceoff set for 8:07 p.m. A replay of Friday's game could be tomorrow at noon on the NHL Network. Saturday's game can be seen live on Fox College Sports Central.  

Game Notes

- The eight goals allowed by Robert Morris are a season high and the most surrendered by a Colonial team since RMU suffered an 8-2 defeat at the hands of Wisconsin Oct. 20, 2007. Robert Morris entered the game having only allowed more than three goals twice this season.

- Nathan Longpre, Adam Brace and Trevor Lewis, all had their point streaks snapped on Friday.

- The eight goal margin is the largest ever for the Colonials in a loss.