Pittsburgh, Pa. - Oct. 1, 2011 - A red-hot first period propelled the Robert Morris men's hockey team to a 4-3 win over York in exhibition action on Saturday evening at Clearview Arena.
The Colonials (0-0 overall, 0-0 Atlantic Hockey) opened the 2011-12 campaign with a trio of goals in the first period starting with freshman forward Jeff Jones' (Revelstoke, British Columbia / Merritt Centennials) rebound goal at 8:17. After junior defenseman Andrew Blazek (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Topeka Roadrunners) had his initial shot turned aside by York goalkeeper David Blair, Jones lit the lamp after crashing the net on the far side. Freshman forward Cody Cartier (Sylvan Lake, Alberta / Canmore Eagles) also earned an assist on the goal.
RMU, which outshot the Lions 18-5 in the first and 32-27 overall, would make it a two-goal deficit just over four minutes later when junior forward Adam Brace (Cobden, Ontario / Canisius) scorched a one-timer off a draw won by freshman forward David Rigatti (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Texas Tornado) at 12:48 of the first period. Robert Morris would hold a 34-26 advantage on face offs for the contest.
Junior forward Zach Hervato (Stittsville, Ontario / Smith Falls Bears) would close out the first period with the Colonials' third-unanswered goal - this time a power-play goal - at 18:30. Hervato knocked home the second rebound goal of the game for RMU with sophomore forward Colin South (Sewickley, Pa. / Bay State Breakers) and senior forward Cody Crichton (Palgrave, Ontario / Brampton Capitals) earning assists on the goal.
York would answer with three-straight goals of its own in the second period. Mackenzie Micks would tip Jeremie Perron's shot from the point over RMU senior goaltender Brooks Ostergard (Chargin Falls, Ohio / Bay State Breakers) at 6:00 in the second to make it a 3-1 game. Tyler McGee added a second goal for the Lions 3:23 later after being fed by Evan Gravenor, and Tyler Clouthier would nab the equalizer at 17:53 with an unassisted score off an RMU turnover.
After a big sway in the first two periods, the Colonials wouldn't wait long to respond in the third. Just 2:15 into the final period of regulation, Crichton tallied the eventual game winner with a shot from the far face-off circle. Senior forward Trevor Lewis (Lilitz, Pa. / Syracuse Stars) and senior forward Ron Cramer (New Wilmington, Pa. / Indiana Jr. Ice) were credited with assists on the goal.
Robert Morris featured all three of its goalkeepers in Saturday's exhibition game. Taking the start, Ostergard made 13 saves with two goals against in 32:40 of ice time. Sophomore Eric Ferber (Scottsdale, Ariz. / Bridgewater Bandits) came in midway through the second and allowed one goal with six saves while junior Eric Levine (Wheeling, Ill. / Pembroke Lumber Kings) stood in for the third period, making five saves in a 30 minute, shutout performance.
The Colonials, who host the annual Blue/White game on Sunday at 2:05 p.m., open the 2011-12 regular season next weekend at the Mutual of Omaha Maverick Stampede in Omaha, Neb. Robert Morris kicks off the tournament against Colgate on Friday at 5:37 p.m. and takes on either Mercyhurst or hosting UNO on Saturday.
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