Lewiston, NY - A late rally to force overtime was not enough as Robert Morris University men's hockey suffered a loss in the season opener, 4-3 at Niagara University.

Sophomore forward Alex Tonge scored an extra-attacker goal with 1:27 remaining to tie the game 3-3 and force the extra frame. A shot lobbed towards the net by Niagara's Noah Delmas caromed off Tanner Lomsnes and into the net to give the Purple Eagles the 4-3 victory.

The overtime score by Niagara was one of just two even strength goals on the night, the other also tallied by the Purple Eagles, was scored by Keegan Harper giving them a 3-1 lead 8:56 into the third. Three of the game's goals were scored on the power play, one shorthanded and one with an extra attacker.

Robert Morris sent two to the penalty box early in the first period at Niagara was able to capitalize with a power play goal by Derian Plouffe, 2:26 into the game. The 1-0 lead held into the second period. With RMU on a power play, Niagara took the puck and drove to the net with Lomsnes hitting Nick Farmer for the shorthanded goal with less than two minutes expired in the period.

The Colonials cut the lead in half with a power play goal of their own with 5:36 remaining in the second. Brady Ferguson scored his first of the season to put RMU on the board and the Colonials trailed 2-1 heading to the third.

Harper's even strength goal put Niagara ahead by two before Ferguson notched his second goal of the night on the power play, once again cutting the Purple Eagles' lead to one, with just over five minutes to play. Ferguson took the initial shot and a rebound landed at the feet of Michael Louria who's putback attempt came through the crease and back to Ferguson who easily slid the puck home.

With goaltender Francis Marotte pulled in favor of an extra attacker with 1:27 remaining, Tonge slipped the puck past Guillaume Therrien to tie the game at three goals apiece and force overtime. The fluky bounce of Delmas' shot off of Lomsnes ended the game 2:25 into the extra frame.

Marotte made 25 saves, keeping the Colonials in the game, particularly late in the third when Niagara was looking to push back to a two-goal advantage. RMU outshot Niagara 34-29. Louria, a junior transfer, fired 10 shots on goal in his Colonials debut, tied for fourth-most shots on goal in a single game in RMU history.

Ferguson and Moore recorded three point nights, two goals and an assist for Ferguson, while Moore added a trio of helpers. The two power play tallies for Ferguson place him second all-time in career power play goals at RMU with 20.

The Colonials won the faceoff battle 44-39 with Spencer Dorowicz claiming 11 wins on the draw and only three losses.

Robert Morris (0-1-0, 0-1-0 AHC) heads back to Western New York next weekend for a two-game series against Canisius at the HarborCenter in Buffalo.



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