GRAND FORKS, N.D. - The Robert Morris University men's ice hockey team suffered its first sweep of the season Saturday as North Dakota picked up a 2-1 victory at Ralph Engelstad Arena.
After shutting out one of the No. 2 ranked team in the country for two and half periods North Dakota netted the first goal of the game with 4:01 left in regulation. Nathan Longpre (Peterborough, Ontario / Mahoning Valley Phantoms) scored the only goal of the game for the Colonials (12-7-2, 7-5-2) with 20 seconds left but an earlier empty net tally by Danny Kristo kept Robert Morris from pull off the upset of the Fight Sioux (16-5-2, 11-3-0).
"I'm really proud of our effort tonight. We play with a lot of intensity." head men's ice hockey coach Derek Schooley said. "To outshoot them (North Dakota) in their building with the game on the line was good for us. We came up here to become a better hockey and get ready for the rest of the Atlantic Hockey season and I think we accomplished that."
Eric Levine (Wheeling, Ill. / Pembroke Lumber Kings) earned the start in net for the Colonials and put together a solid performance making 33 saves on the night. The sophomore netminder made 14 saves in the first period. The Colonials also recovered from a tough night on special teams by opening the game by going 3-for-3 on the penalty kill in the first period.
The two teams played to another stalemate in the second period with Levine registering 16 saves in net. The Colonials also picked up two more penalty kills in the second frame.
Matt Frattin broke the stalemate with 4:01 second left in regulation. Robert Morris pulled Levine looking to tie the game with an extra attacker but it was Kristo who found the net first to make it a two goal game. Robert Morris continued with the empty net and Longpre found the net with assists to Adam Brace (Cobden, Ontario / Canisius College) and Denny Urban (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Ohio Blue Jackets). Robert Morris put together some solid chances in the third period and got the better of the shot attempts outshooting North Dakota 17-to-5.
Robert Morris returns to Island Sports and conference action next weekend taking on Connecticut Jan. 14-15. Both games are scheduled for 7:05 p.m. starts and Friday's game can be heard live on Pittsburgh Penguins HD radio.
Game Notes
- Robert Morris went a perfect 5-for-5 on the penalty kill. It is the second time in three games the Colonials half posted a prefect kill.
- A night after having their point streaks snapped both Adam Brace and Nathan Longpre picked up points.
- Robert Morris ends non-conference play with a record of 5-2-0
- The assist for Denny Urban keeps him from being shut out in any full weekend series so far this season.
