PITTSBURGH – Four second period goals led Robert Morris University (6-14-4, 2-8-2) to a 6-0 win over the Niagara University men’s hockey team (10-14-1, 5-6-1) Saturday at the Island Sports Center, in Pittsburgh, snapping the Purple Eagles’ four-game unbeaten streak. The six goals by the Colonials is a season-high.
After a scoreless first period, in which the Purple Eagles outshot Robert Morris, 9-7, the Colonials took a 2-0 lead early in the second period after goals by freshmen forwards Sean Berkstresser and Nick Pernula. With both goals coming less than 90 seconds apart, both Berkstresser and Pernula pounced on loose pucks in front of the Niagara net, able to get shots past Purple Eagles goaltender Jeff Van Nynatten (Stratford, Ont.) from just outside the crease.
Down 2-0 and on the power play less than 3 minutes into the middle period, Niagara’s problems were compounded when senior captain Barret Ehgoetz (Kincardine, Ont.) was called for a 10-minute misconduct at 7:53, causing the all-time leading scorer in Niagara history to miss majority of the second period.
Just 16 seconds following the Ehgoetz penalty, the Colonials scored their third goal of the period when freshman Joe Federoff beat Van Nynatten with a low shot from the right faceoff circle. Short-handed, Federoff drove at the Niagara and was able to get the shot off on Van Nynatten at 8:09 of the middle period.
Freshman forward Logan Bittle tallied the final goal in the high-scoring second period for Robert Morris, tipping a high shot towards the net by sophomore Doug Conley at 9:44 and taking advantage of a Colonial five-on-three man advantage. Positioned near the left side of the goal crease, Bittle deflected the shot low past Van Nynatten for the power-play goal.
Bittle added a second goal in the win at the six minute mark of the final period, with freshman Joel Gasper scoring the final goal in the six-goal win.
Niagara’s attempt to get back into the contest was unsuccessful, as Colonial freshman goaltender Christian Boucher, unbeaten in his last three starts, stopped all nine Purple Eagle shots in the final period.
With shots in favor of Niagara, 28-23, in the contest, Boucher (6-11-4) made 28 saves for his second-career shutout. Van Nynatten (5-6-1) made 14 saves in two periods of action, with freshman goaltender Scott Mollison (Winnipeg, Man.) making three saves in the third period.
The second period has been unfriendly to the Purple Eagles all season, as Niagara has allowed 37 goals in the middle period, more than any other period. In the weekend’s two contests against Robert Morris, Niagara surrendered six goals in the second period, proving to be the difference in Saturday’s 6-0 loss.
The Purple Eagles look to regroup next weekend, hosting the University of Alabama in Huntsville in a two-game series at Dwyer Arena Friday and Saturday. Niagara and Huntsville split the two-game series, played at the Von Braun Center, in Huntsville, Ala., earlier this season.
