BEMIDJI, Minn. - The Niagara men's hockey team (16-14-5; 9-5-4 CHA) couldn't dig out of a 2-0 hole, finding themselves on the wrong end of a 2-1 decision against the Robert Morris Colonials (10-18-7; 5-8-5 CHA) in the CHA Semifinals on Friday afternoon.

Down 2-1 late in the third period, Niagara utilized the extra-attacker to try tying the game. Despite Niagara's best efforts, an untimely bounce on very chippy ice came out of the zone, ending Niagara's comeback effort.

"It was a rough game for us," head coach Dave Burkholder said. "We didn't play like we should have today."

The first period saw Niagara unable to capitalize on two opportunities to dent the scoreboard. On a rebound with Colonials netminder Brooks Ostergard out of position, freshman Wes Consorti (Brantford, Ont.) fired a shot that just missed the open net. Later in the period, sophomore Bryan Haczyk (Nutley, N.J.) rang one off the crossbar. Robert Morris took a 1-0 lead on the man-advantage halfway through the opening frame, when Denny Urban beat CHA Player of the Year Juliano Pagliero (Dalroy, Alb.) low, glove-side.

Physical play picked up during the middle stanza, with both teams unafraid to throw the body. Pagliero was quite busy in the second period, including a flurry of point-blank saves with eight minutes remaining in the period. Late in the period the Colonials took a 2-0 lead, when Trevor Lewis beat the Alberta native high, glove-side.  

Niagara came within one with 14 minutes left in the third period, when a nifty centering feed from freshman Sam Goodwin (St.Louis, Mo.) was one-timed into the back of the net by junior Derek Foam (Mississauga, Ont.). Junior Chris Moran (Buffalo, N.Y.) also earned an assist on Foam's goal, giving him 99 career-points, one shy of becoming the 12th member of Niagara's 100-Point Club.

The Purple Eagles will conclude their season tomorrow afternoon, taking on the loser of the other semifinal matchup at 3 pm eastern.