PITTSBURGH, Pa.  - The Robert Morris University men's ice hockey grabbed a second period lead and never looked back Friday earning a, 3-2, win against Mercyhurst at the Island Sports Center.

The Colonials (17-9-4, 12-7-4) avenged their only loss at the Island Sports Center with a, 3-2, victory against the Lakers (13-13-3, 11-10-1). Chris Kushneriuk (Ottawa, Ontario / Orleans Blues) netted the game-winning goal in his first game since Jan. 15.

Robert Morris got out of gates quickly in the first period with a goal from Trevor Lewis (Lititz, Pa. / Syracuse Stars) 1:04 into the contest. Cody Crichton (Palgrave, Ontario / Brampton Capitals) and Colin South (Sewickley, Pa. / Bay State Breakers) earned the assists on the play. Mercyhurst responded with the fifth goal of the season from Mike Gurtler who found the net at the 16:37 mark of the first period. It appeared the first frame would end with the teams tied at one apiece until Brock Meadows (White Rock, B.C. / Salmon Arm Silverbacks) fired a shot on net that hit Adam Brace (Cobden, Ontario / Canisius College) in front of the net. The bouncing puck found its way past Mercyhurst netminders Ryan Zapolski to give the Colonials a 2-1 lead heading into the first intermission.  

The Colonials looked to gain momentum coming out of the intermission as Ryan Raven picked up a two-minute penalty for hooking to give the Colonials and early man advantage in the second stanza. Instead, the Lakers were able to find the net shorthanded and tie the game at two. Mike Gurtler recorded his sixth goal of the season and became just the second player to score shorthanded against Robert Morris, this season. Kushneriuk gave Robert Morris a lead it would not relinquish at the 11:39 mark of the second period.

The two teams skated to a scoreless third period with neither team picking up a penalty. Brooks Ostergard (Chagrin Falls, Ohio / Bay State Breakers) stopped a game high 12 shots in the third period with Zapolski turned away nine for Mercyhurst. Both teams posted perfect penalty kill number on the night with RMU going 2-for-2 and Mercyhurst going 1-1.

The Colonials heads to Erie, Pa. Saturday to finish its season series with Mercyhurst, puck drop is set for 7:05 p.m. The game can be heard live on RMUColonials.com and Pittsburgh Penguins HD radio.  

Game Notes

- Nathan Longpre's nine game point streak came to an end Friday night but it goes into the Robert Morris record book as the second longest in school history. The senior assistant captain has a point in 16 of his last 18 games with six multi-point games in that span.  

- Adam Brace extended his point streak to six games Friday night. The sophomore forward also has four goals in his last three games.  

- The Colonials hold a streak of 12 consecutive penalty kills after allowing three power-play goals in their previous 12 kill opportunities.

- Chris Kushneriuk's goal was the first for the Colonial captain since Dec. 19. The senior was playing in his first game since Jan. 15.

- With the win, Robert Morris now holds a record of 8-1-3 at the Island Sports Center, this season.

- Adam Brace attempted the second penalty shot of the season for the Colonials in the second period but Brace's attempt was turned away by Zapolski.