MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. – For the second time this season, the men’s hockey team (4-5-1, 2-1-1) found itself down 4-1 in the second period. And for the second time, the Purple Eagles rallied for the victory.

This time, with Saturday’s 7-5 road victory over Robert Morris (2-4-0, 1-1-0), the win was a little more thrilling, coming against a conference opponent. With five points in four games, Niagara remains in first place in the CHA.

"This was a gutsy performance and a thrilling comeback for our young team," Niagara head coach Dave Burkholder said. "We never felt (trailing 4-1) that the score indicated how we felt and how we were playing. The guys perservered and kept out chancing them, and finally started hitting the back of the net. Then we started gaining momentum. This was a thrilling comeback for us on the road."

Forward Sean Bentivoglio (Thorold, Ont.) picked up four assists in the win to give the senior captain 102 career points. Bentivoglio becomes only the eighth player in school history to reach the illustrious 100-point club.

"Since (Sean) has been on campus, he has been a major player for us," Burkholder added. "He was rewarded when he was named captain, and that just shows how the guys and the coaching staff feel about him. It couldn’t have happened to a nicer kid."

Sophomore Ted Cook (Hogansburg, N.Y.) netted the game winner, a power-play goal with 9:06 remaining in the third. He finished with two goals and an assist in the win. Les Reaney (Ceylon, Sask.) tallied a pair of goals and an assist as well, as both forwards combined with Bentivoglio for 10 points on the night.

Reaney started the scoring just 70 seconds into the game with assists from Bentivoglio and Kyle Rogers (Erie, Pa.). The Colonials then connected on four-straight goals, three coming on the power play. Then with 7:14 left in the second period, Niagara began its comeback climb.

The nation’s top scoring line connected again when Reaney and Bentivoglio assisted on Cook’s first goal of the night. The trio has combined for 44 points (22 goals and 22 assists) this season.

Just one minute later, Vince Rocco (Woodbridge, Ont.) tallied his fourth goal of the season. Freshman Nate Bostic (Holden, Mass.) scored his first career goal to tie the game at 4-4, finishing with a goal and an assist for his first career points. RMU would take a 5-4 lead into intermission, however, when Aaron Clarke snuck one past Allen Barton (Spencerport, N.Y.).

Reaney evened it up again when Cook and Bentivoglio assisted on Niagara’s fifth goal of the game, setting the stage for Cook’s game winner. With 9:06 left on the clock, Rocco and senior defender Pat Oliveto (Rochester, N.Y.) found Cook in front of the net on the power play, putting the Purple Eagles up for good. Rogers added his first goal of the season, an empty netter as time expired.

Barton made 27 saves in just two periods of work. The senior earned his first win since his sophomore season.