Colonials Corner

The Colonials celebrate their win Sunday in Miami. Photo courtesy of RMU Athletics.

The first helping was so delicious, Robert Morris went back for seconds.

Less than 48 hours after knocking off #1 Miami (OH) in the Pittsburgh College Hockey Showcase, Robert Morris spoiled the Redhawk’s first home game of 2010 with a 2-1 upset win in Oxford, Ohio. Sophomore goalie Brooks Ostergard stopped 38 shots – bringing his weekend save total to 77 – to cap off a weekend sweep that has stunned the college hockey world.

Nathan Longpre scored a power play goal to give Robert Morris an early lead in the second period. After Miami tied it up midway through the middle frame, Denny Urban scored on another power play for the game winner. Robert Morris held off a frantic Miami comeback in the third period, as Ostergard whethered 14 shots in the final frame.

Miami fell to 13-4-5 and faces rival Ferris State on the road next weekend in a battle for the CCHA conference leader. Robert Morris, meanwhile, might have more of an argument that their 5-12-3 record is due to an extraordinarily strong schedule and that they are better than that mark would suggest. They can improve their standing in the CHA with home games against conference rival Alabama-Huntsville this weekend.

We normally leave the hockey stuff to Centre Ice and Faceoff Factor, but this needs mentioned. In what will likely go down as the biggest win in Robert Morris sports history, the Colonials men’s ice hockey team shocked the hockey world Friday night with a 3-1 win over #1 Miami (OH). The game was part of the Pittsburgh College Hockey Showcase, the last college hockey event to take place inside storied Mellon Arena.

Miami (13-3-5) had lost just twice this season, both times to ranked teams (3-2 to #9 Michigan State in overtime and 3-2 to #10 Bemidji State). Robert Morris (4-12-3), meanwhile, had won just three times entering the game, but had played a brutal schedule that included playing opponents that were nationally ranked at the time of competition or became nationally ranked afterward in ten of their 19 games.

Miami has eight NHL draft picks on their roster. Robert Morris has none. It was the epitome of a David v. Goliath matchup.

The Colonials opened the scoring when Chris Kushneriuk scored a short-handed goal late in the first period. Miami tied it up in the second with a 5-on-3 power play goal from Carter Camper. Still tied at 1 entering the third period, the Colonials struck twice in a span of one minute and 11 seconds.

J.C. Velasquez scored first and then freshman Stefan Salituro put in his own rebound to seal the win. Sophomore goalie Brooks Ostergard had 39 saves for the victory. Robert Morris will travel to Miami to complete the series on Sunday.

The Robert Morris men’s ice hockey team is featured on the main website of NHL.com

The Colonials are highlighted in the “On Campus” section of the website.

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