West Point, NY – Robert Morris men's hockey skated to a 4-4 tie at Army West Point Friday night. Brandon Denham scored 2:28 into the third period to knot the game at four goals apiece. Sophomore goaltender Andrew Pikul entered the game in place of Dalton Izyk early in the second period, shutting out the Black Knights for the final 42:09 to preserve a 4-4 tie.

The Colonials opened the scoring 12:28 into the first frame. Brady Ferguson scored his fifth goal of the season on the power play, with assists going to Brandon Denham and Daniel Leavens, to give RMU a 1-0 lead. Less than three minutes later, Ryan Nick gave Army a power play goal of its' own to even the game at 1-1.

Just two minutes later, Army's Brendan McGuire finds the back of the net for his first goal of the season, giving the Black Knights their first lead of the game 2-1.

While on the penalty kill in the final minute of the first period, Zac Lynch snatched the puck from Army and danced his way through defenders to the front of the net, firing home the equalizer. Lynch's sixth goal of the season and 48th of his career made it a 2-2 game at the end of the first.

Army began the second stanza on the power play and Joe Kozlak quickly took advantage, netting his second goal of the season to regain the lead 3-2. But 1:14 later, Robert Morris found the answer. John Rey blasted a shot from the blue line that ricocheted off Army goaltender Parker Gahagen and onto the stick of Brandon Denham who put the puck home to once again tie the game, 3-3.

The tie didn't last long as Army's McGuire came streaking down the right side burying a shot past Izyk 51 seconds later. The Black Knights maintained a 4-3 lead heading into the third period. Pikul, seeing action for the third time in his career and second this season, entered the game in goal to begin the third frame.

With less than three minutes off the clock in the third, Denham, hunting for his second goal of the game, put a shot from the right side to the front of the net and it found its' way home to tie the game at 4. Pikul made 22 saves in his appearance, holding Army off the board and forcing overtime. The sophomore goaltender made a pair of diving saves in the extra session to keep the game alive, but despite several quality chances, neither team could score.

The tie is the third of the season for both the Colonials and the Black Knights (1-5-3, 0-4-3). Robert Morris runs its' record to 4-2-3 overall, 3-1-3 in Atlantic Hockey play. RMU outshot Army 45-38, going 1-for-2 on the power play, winning the faceoff battle 42-39. The teams meet again Saturday night for a 7:05 pm puck drop at Tate Rink in West Point.

VIDEO: Highlights of RMU's 4-4 tie vs. Army [11/20/15]