NIAGARA, N.Y. – Jan. 28, 2012 – In a duel between two of the nation's top goaltenders, one shot ended up making the difference on Saturday night as the Robert Morris men's hockey team fell 2-1 to Niagara, handing the Colonials their first Atlantic Hockey Association sweep in nearly a year.

Robert Morris senior goaltender Brooks Ostergard (Chagrin Falls, Ohio / Bay State Breakers) and Niagara's Chris Noonan entered the series finale as two of the top statistical goaltenders in the nation, and their play did nothing but back up those figures. Ostergard, who entered the night with the fifth highest save percentage in the nation (.935), stopped 34 of the 36 shots he faced while Noonan, the owner of the nation's second-best figure (.939), made 34 saves on 35 shots. The loss dropped Ostergard to 6-8-2 on the season while Noonan (8-3-3) picked up his sixth-straight win.

Niagara (11-8-7 overall, 10-4-5 Atlantic Hockey) jumped out to a two-goal lead in the second period when Chris Lochner and C.J. Chartrain tallied even-strength goals for the Purple Eagles. The two-goal period capped a rare weekend in which the Colonials (12-11-3 overall, 10-6-3 Atlantic Hockey) were outscored 3-0 in the second period by their opponent. Entering the weekend, Robert Morris was nearly doubling up its opponents' offensive production, outscoring foes 29-15 in the second stanza.

Sophomore forward Colin South (Sewickley, Pa. / Bay State Breakers) cut the lead to a goal with his sixth of the season with just over five minutes remaining, but the Colonials couldn't replicate their third-period rally antics from last Saturday's 2-1 comeback win over Connecticut. Senior forward Nick Chiavetta (Harrisburg, Pa. / New York Applecore) and freshman forward Cody Cartier (Sylvan Lake, Alberta / Canmore Eagles) each tallied assists on the goal for their second points of the weekend.

In a weekend that saw only four penalties in 120 minutes of action including just two on Saturday night, senior forward Ron Cramer's (New Wilmington, Pa. / Indiana Ice) second period offense for interference stood out as notable. The senior tied Jeff Gilbert (2004-07) for the Robert Morris all-time record with his 100th career-penalty. Cramer trails Gilbert by 28 minutes for the Colonials record in penalty minutes.

Robert Morris returns to action next weekend with a home-and-home series with Canisius.

 -Robert Morris University, 2013 NCAA® Frozen Four® Host Institution-