NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – Just one night after a thrilling battle to a 3-3 tie, the Niagara hockey team suffered a blowout defeat against Robert Morris. The Colonials scored early and often, as Niagara surrendered the game's first six goals unanswered en route to an 8-2 loss Saturday night at Dwyer Arena.
 
Freshman Sam Rennaker scored a power-play goal for the Purple Eagles, the first goal and point of his career at Niagara. Derian Plouffe also scored for Niagara, while Vinny Muto added two assists. Guillaume Therien started the game in net and surrendered six goals on 17 shots. He was pulled at the 11:21 mark of the second period, and Joe O'Brien finished the game with nine saves on 11 shots in his first collegiate appearance.

Niagara outshot Robert Morris by a total of 36-28, but the goaltending battle was won by Robert Morris goaltender Terry Shafer, who made 34 saves on the night.
 
"We dominated the first seven minutes of the game, puck possession, cycling, but just didn't get it in," head coach Dave Burkholder said. "We had opportunities that just didn't go in, and then they go and score four goals. [Guillaume] struggled. He battled last night for us, gave us a chance to win and we got a tie out of it, and our guys left him out there to dry."
 
The first period was a tough one for Therien, as the freshman surrendered four goals on 10 shots to start his second game in as many nights. Niagara controlled puck possession for most of the first five minutes but the Colonials' Brady Ferguson deflected a Tyson Wilson shot from the point to open the scoring 5:31 into the game. Greg Gibson followed that up with two goals of his own, and Daniel Leavens got on the board with Robert Morris' first of four power-play goals on the night.
 
Robert Morris tacked on two more goals before Therien was replaced with O'Brien, but the Purple Eagles scored the next goal. Keegan Harper set up along the blue line and ripped a shot that Rennaker deflected in from the high slot. Not only was it the first goal of Rennaker's career, but it was also Niagara's first power-play tally of the season.
 
Trailing 7-1, Plouffe was credited with Niagara's second goal. Muto corralled the puck along the blue line, fending off multiple defenders, and threw a shot at the net with Plouffe and Albin Karlsson creating traffic in front. The puck bounced off of Plouffe and past the outstretched body of Shafer.
 
Over the next three weeks, Niagara will have a chance to grow their game against a slew of significant non-conference opponents. Next week, the Purple Eagles host the Cornell Big Red at Dwyer Arena on Fri. Oct. 30 before heading out to Ithaca on Halloween night. Both games will start at 7:00 p.m.
 
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