At Robert Morris, the kids are alright, or so it would seem after they unleashed a four goal flurry in the final 10 minutes of the third period to take down the visiting Ferris State Bulldogs at the Island Sports Center.
RMU’s Chris Margott led the way with a goal and three assists, giving him the most helpers in a career in the school’s history.
Ferris State’s Justin Lewandowski kicked off the scoring on a breakaway, power-play tally at 8:52 of the first. RMU defenseman Matt Krug answered less than two minutes later with a power play goal of his own, assisted by Margott and sophomore defenseman Denny Urban.
Ferris State’s Scott Wietecha unleashed a rocket from the right point that appeared to ricochet of the left post and back in at even strength to give the Bulldogs a 2-1 lead after the first period.
Much of the play was indicative of a level contest with both teams skating an up tempo game and creating odd man breaks, and lots of flow, but it was a bizarre goal from Colonial sophomore forward Nathan Longpre, burying a miscue from Ferris State goaltender Pat Nagle at 8:24 of the second to even the game at two.
The third period saw a loss of composure by the Bulldogs as they took eight penalties for 24 minutes. And an RMU power play that had looked less than stellar at Merrimack last week, was firing on all cylinders tonight.
Nathan Longpre’s power-play goal, his second of the game, at 10:05 of the third put the Colonials in the lead for three minutes before Justin Lewandowski tied the game on the man advantage at 13:05, and then it all unraveled. Matt Krug scored his second of the night at even strength from a sharp angle to put RMU ahead at 14:36.
The remaining five minutes saw the crowd, which could have been given a fourth star for its performance and role in tonight’s game, constantly getting under the skin of the Ferris players during a penalty box parade during the last three minutes of the game, thwarting any hope of a comeback attempt.
Lewandowski was sent off for unsportsmanlike conduct at 18:14 of the third. RMU pounced on the power play chances with Margott, and sophomore Kyle Burton both scoring on a two man advantage to put the game away.
The Colonials outshot the Bulldogs 30-23 and were 4-for-7 on the power play while the Bulldogs went 2-for-8, coach Derek Schooley was more than happy with the outcome.
“It was a good, hard fought hockey game. Wes (Russell) did a good job in net, and our defense is improved. We had a lot of good, hard blocked shots from Chris Kushneriuk and Kyle Burton and you can’t say enough about how good our penalty killing was. Sometimes your goalie has to be your best penalty killer and Wes was that for us tonight.”
Robert Morris will face Ferris State again on Saturday October 18th at 7:35 at the Island Sports Center before preparing for the Govenor’s Cup in Albany, New York next weekend.
