NIAGARA, N.Y. – March 9, 2012 –Brooks Ostergard made 29 saves as the Robert Morris men's hockey team fell to Niagara 3-0 on Friday night in Game One of this weekend's Atlantic Hockey Association quarterfinal series at Dwyer Arena. The Colonials now face elimination on Saturday night against the Purple Eagles to keep their season alive.

“I thought overall we played well. Niagara just got the bounces tonight, and we didn't,” Colonials head coach Derek Schooley said. “We'll be ready to play tomorrow. It's do or die time, and I like the way we play when our backs are against the wall.”

In a game featuring two of the nation's top goaltenders, Robert Morris (17-16-5) couldn't find a way to put the puck behind Niagara's Chris Noonan. The Purple Eagles goalie, who ranks first in the nation in save percentage and fourth in goals against average, picked up his second shutout of the season with a 22-save performance on Friday night.

Ostergard (Chagrin Falls, Ohio / Bay State Breakers), who ranks 11th in the nation in save percentage, matched his counterpart for all but 33 seconds of the second period. The senior stopped 29 of 31 shots faced in the game to fall to 11-12-4 for the season. But when RMU needed him, Ostergard came up big with four saves on a trio of great scoring opportunities in the second half Friday night's action.

After a scoreless first period, Niagara (16-10-9) struck twice in the opening minutes of the second period to jump out in front in the opening game of the weekend. Matt Williams scored at 4:38 of the stanza, and Isaac Kohls would tally at 5:11, each goal coming at even strength. Giancarlo Iuorio would add an empty net goal with less than a second to play to seal the win for the Purple Eagles.

Robert Morris returns to action on Saturday in the second game of the best-of-three quarterfinals. Saturday's is also scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

-Robert Morris University, Host Institution of the 2013 NCAA Frozen Four at Pittsburgh's CONSOL Energy Center -