The Robert Morris Colonials would love to do something they haven’t done all year: score the first goal of the game.
For the second time in their last three games, the Colonials had appeared to score first goal only to have it waved off as they watched the momentum of both games slip away to their opponent. Ohio State netminder Dustin Carlson continued his recent hot streak by making 32 saves in the 4-0 shutout. The RMU offense continued to be held in check, and has now netted on only goal in its past three games.
It started out well for the Colonials. Throughout the first half of the first period RMU kept the play in the Buckeye zone and garnered some quality scoring chances, but came up empty. Robert Morris sophomore forward Scott Kobialko almost gave his team the early advantage at 12:19 of the first period, but it was determined by the officials that he used a kicking motion, and was disallowed.
The games first tally came off the stick of OSU’s Hunter Bishop as his shot from the left circle just trickled past Colonial goaltender Wes Russell give the Buckeyes the early lead at 15:48 of the first. The Colonials continued to put up shots the remainder of the first but Carlson was up to the challenge, stopping all 13 RMU shots.
In the second stanza, the Buckeyes came out strong and took advantage of a Colonial defensive breakdown resulting in a Zac Dalpe breakaway and shot on net that was punched home by Zach Pelletier at the 5:19 mark. For the rest of the game, the play turned more physical and more chippy in spurts.
Both teams took multiple roughing penalties, 10 in all, which seemed to get under the skin of the Colonials through the remainder of the game. However, with only a two goal lead, and remembering that the Colonials had erased a third period deficit in last year’s College Hockey Showcase, the Buckeyes were looking to put a nail in the coffin.
Buckeye freshman Ian Boots did just that, taking a rising, sharp angle shot that seemed to ricochet behind Russell at 19:51 of the second to give OSU a 3-0 lead.
The Colonials outshot the Buckeyes 11-2 in the third, and had a 5-on-3 advantage for a 1:24, but could not dent Carlson, the games number one star. They also gave Wes Russell the rest of the night off and freshman Brooks Ostergard got the first playing time of his collegiate career.
Neither team scored with the man advantage for the game, but OSU freshman forward Taylor Stefishen finished all Colonial comeback hopes, pushing in a loose puck in the crease at 17:48 to seal his team’s victory.
The Colonials look to rebound next weekend when they travel to Lake Superior State for games on Friday and Saturday while the Buckets travel to Marquette to play a pair against Northern Michigan.
