NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. - The Niagara men's hockey team (0-8-1, 0-1-0 CHA) fought back to tie the game at three in the third period, but it wasn't enough, falling to CHA rival Robert Morris (3-6-0, 1-2-0 CHA) by a final count of 5-3 on Friday night at Dwyer Arena.

With the game tied at three halfway through the third period, the Colonials struck twice in a six minute span to take the game away from the Purple Eagles.

"We need to be tougher mentally," head coach Dave Burkholder said. "Plain and simple, we need to be a better hockey team from here on out."

Niagara fell into a hole as Chris Kushneriuk scored the first goal of his hat-trick just 47 seconds into the game, a goal that wouldn't stand too long, as senior Chris Moran (Buffalo, N.Y.) would tie the game just about three minutes later. With the game tied at one, the Colonials seized momentum, when Nick Chiavetta scored on a floater from the far point three minutes later. The Colonials would take a slim, 2-1 lead into the first period intermission.

"That wasn't the start that Hare wanted," Burkholder said.

Robert Morris would add another to put Niagara down 3-1 late in the second period, but the Purple Eagles tied the game by putting pucks on net. On the man-advantage, senior Ryan Olidis (Uxbridge, Ont.) was left all alone to the left of Colonial netminder Brooks Ostergard, and fired it into the open side to come within one. Niagara would tie the game early in the third period, when freshman Brent Vandenberg (Burlington, Ont.) ripped a backhanded shot that beat Ostergard high.

Freshman netminder Andrew Hare (Burlington, Ont.) made 19 saves in his Dwyer Arena debut.  Moran and Olidis both finished with a goal and an assist.

The Purps will be back in action on Saturday night, when they travel to Pittsburgh to take on Robert Morris at 7 p.m. Niagara's Nov. 13 game against Robert Morris can be seen via tape delay throughout the week on Lockport Community Television.