A third period goal from Colin South (Sewickley, Pa. / Bay State Breakers) would tie the score, 4-4, just 1:26 into the final frame.  South's goal for Robert Morris (5-13-3, 5-6-3 AHA) came after a dump-and-chase into the offensive zone that saw the puck turned over by American International (6-14-1, 5-8-1 AHA) to the stick of South who beat Hunter Leisner, the goaltender for the Yellow Jackets.

"I commended our team with their stick-to-it-iveness," said head coach Derek Schooley postgame.  "Our stick-to-it-iveness was very good.  We get down 2-0, come back and tie it.  They get a quick goal right back and we tie it.  They get another quick goal back and we're down 4-3 going into the third period."

American International jumped out to that two-goal lead with a pair of goals coming within five minutes of each other.  Dominic Racobaldo picked up the game's first goal at the 11:43 mark of the first period after corralling a loose puck in the slot and getting a shot by the RMU goaltender Terry Shafer (Penfield, N.Y. / New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs) while the Yellow Jackets were on the power play.

Jon Puskar would make the score 2-0 in favor of the Yellow Jackets with fewer than four minutes remaining in the first period when he deflected a shot behind Shafer.

The Colonials would face a two-goal deficit for just 25 seconds before cutting that deficit in half with a goal from Jeff Jones (Revelstoke, British Columbia / Merritt Centennials).  Jones' goal, coming at the 17:07 mark of the first period, was created by an intercepted clearing attempt created by a relentless Robert Morris forecheck that allowed Jones to beat Leisner with his shot.

RMU would enter the first intermission down by a goal, 2-1, but the Colonials would rally to tie the game just minutes into the middle frame with a power-play goal.  At the 3:31 mark of the second period, a goal from Scott Jacklin (Kimberley, British Columbia / Trail Smoke Eaters) would tie the score, 2-2.  Jacklin picked up a loose puck and quickly ripped a shot past Leisner.

Robert Morris would fall behind again less than four minutes after Jacklin's goal when the Yellow Jackets would take a 3-2 lead after a goal from Jason Popek.  Popek beat Shafer with a shot from the far wing at the 7:11 mark of the second period.

The Colonials were quick to respond and tie the game again, this time just 24 seconds after falling behind with American International's third goal.  The forecheck of Robert Morris created another goal, this one came from the stick of Brandon Denham (Milton, Ontario / Oakville Blades) after his line mates forced a turnover in the left-wing corner of the offensive zone and found Denham alone in the slot who tied the score, 3-3.

"I thought Denham, Gibson, and Cope were outstanding," said Schooley.  "I thought their energy really filtered down thru the rest of the team."

The score did not remained tied for long as American International regained it advantage less than two minutes after Denham's marker.  Blake Peake would give the Yellow Jackets a 4-3 lead that lasted thru the remainder of the second period with the team's second power-play goal in the game.

Both teams would search for the game-winning goal after South's tally early in the third period, and despite numerous chances at both ends of the ice the two teams were destined for overtime.

RMU would record the only shots in the overtime period that included the Colonials killing a penalty for the final 1:46 of the game.

"We really didn't give them much of anything in the overtime," said Schooley.  "We played with a lot of desperation and urgency on that kill."

Jones and South each finished the night with two points, a goal and an assist for each of them. 

Between the pipes, Shafer picked up his third tie of the season while making 23 saves.

The two teams will square off again tomorrow afternoon at 4:05 p.m.