Niagara Falls, NY – An intense battle between Robert Morris men's hockey and Niagara results in a 3-3 tie Friday night.

Greg Gibson opened the scoring five minutes and twenty seconds into the game. Chase Golightly worked the puck to Zac Lynch who drove up the wing and fed a pass across the ice to Gibson who buried the shot, netting his second goal of the season.

Five minutes later, the Purple Eagles responded with a goal by TJ Sarcona, his first of the season, tying the game 1-1 heading to the first intermission.

RMU opened the second with solid offensive pressure and cashed in 3:36 into the frame. Tyson Wilson working the Colonials power play, finds Gibson, who fired home his second goal of the game to take a 2-1 lead.

Niagara again answered, 3:08 later. Albin Karlsson nets his first of the season from Nick Cecere to tie the game 2-2.

The Colonials continued to press, leading shots on goal in the second 14-8. Daniel Leavens, who led RMU in shots through the first two games, finally strikes it rich. The defensive pair of Golightly and Wilson turned the puck up the ice to Leavens who scores his first of the season to give the Colonials a 3-2 advantage heading into the final frame.

The third period was scattered with penalties in what was overall a hard-hitting contest. RMU had two of its' four total penalties in the third, while Niagara racked up four of its' eight. The Robert Morris penalty kill units took care of business, not allowing a power play goal, and limiting the Purple Eagles to just one attempted shot on the man-advantage.

Midway through the third, Niagara was able to break through. Dan Kolenda scored his first of the season to knot the game 3-3, forcing overtime.

Despite 7 shot attempts in the overtime session, RMU was unable to score, resulting in a 3-3 tie. It's the Colonials second tie in as many games, running their record to 1-0-2 overall and in Atlantic Hockey conference play.

Dalton Izyk made several key saves in the final minutes of regulation and finished the night making 24 of 27 saves. RMU outshot the Purple Eagles 41-27.

Gibson takes over the team lead in goals scored with a total of three goals through three games, while Lynch remains the team points leader with five, a career total of 106 points.

Robert Morris and Niagara face off Saturday night in the second game of the weekend series, 7:05 pm puck drop at Dwyer Arena.