PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Dec. 30, 2011 – An RMU Hockey Showcase record 4,927 fans filled CONSOL Energy Center on Friday night as the Robert Morris men's hockey team fell to Ohio State 3-2, snapping the Colonials' eight-game unbeaten streak. Sophomore forward Colin South (Sewickley, Pa. / Bay State Breakers) tallied both goals for RMU in his first game back after missing the last five games with a concussion.
"It was one of those games where you are disappointed about the end result but excited about the way the team played," RMU head coach Derek Schooley said. "If we continue to play that way, that hard, and with that level of intensity; I like our chances going back into league play."
South would give the Colonials (9-7-2 overall, 7-2-2 Atlantic Hockey) a 1-0 lead at 10:50 of the first period when he tallied his third goal of the season off a centering pass from senior forward Trevor Lewis (Lititz, Pa. / Syracuse Stars). A Buckeye defenseman caused South to miss his first shot of the scoring chance, but the sophomore hit pay dirt seconds later after freshman defenseman Tyson Wilson's (Brockville, Ontario / Brockville Braves) shot from the point went right to Lewis, who fed South in front of the net for the power-play goal. Robert Morris would go 1-for-7 on the night while on the advantage. Ohio State (14-4-1, 10-3-1-1 CCHA) would answer back for the first of two times in the period at 13:24 when Curtis Gedig scored with assists from Nick Oddo and Sean Duddy.
South would tally his second goal of the night at 16:17 of the first when he collected a loose puck behind the OSU net and slipped a shot behind Cal Heeter in goal to end the night with his fourth score of the season. Freshman forward Scott Jacklin (Kimberley, British Columbia / Trail Smoke Eaters) and senior forward Nick Chiavetta (Harrisburg, Pa. / New York Applecore) would tally assists on the goal.
After Nick Oddo tied the game at 2-2 at 16:49 of the first, the Buckeyes would take their first lead of the night midway through the second period when Devon Krogh tallied a rare 5-on-3 power-play goal against the Colonials at 9:27. The power-play goal was just the fifth such goal allowed this year by the Colonials, who ended the night with a 4-for-5 showing on the penalty kill. Chris Crane would add an empty netter with 14 seconds left in the third period to seal the win for OSU.
Senior goaltender Brooks Ostergard (Chagrin Falls, Ohio / Bay State Breakers) had his seven-game unbeaten streak snapped in the loss after making 39 saves against the Buckeyes. The senior allowed three goals on the night to fall to 5-5-2 for the year. Cal Heeter picked up the win for Ohio State, making 33 saves and allowing two goals against to improve to 12-2-1 on the year.
Friday's attendance of 4,927 marks the second highest overall attendance in Robert Morris history. 6,957 fans attended the Colonials' 4-3 loss to RIT on Dec. 30, 2010 as part of the Winter Classic weekend.
Robert Morris returns to Atlantic Hockey action next weekend with a two-game series at Bentley.
-Robert Morris University, 2013 NCAA® Frozen Four® Host Institution-
