PITTSBURGH, PA – The Colonials took game one of the Atlantic Hockey quarterfinal series against Niagara by a final score of 3-2. Darcy Walsh scored the game-winner for Robert Morris.
1st Period
• Eric Cooley scored the game’s opening goal. Ryan Naumovski and Jack Zielinski were credited with the assists on the play.
• After 20-minutes of action, shots on goal were even at 10, while the Colonials held a slight edge in faceoffs, 14-13.
• The Purple Eagles blocked six shots in the frame.
2nd Period
• Robert Morris wasted no time to start the second as Aidan Spellacy scored the power-play goal 11-seconds into the period.
• The Colonials took a one-goal lead 9:27 into the second with a goal in front from Jordan Timmons.
• Niagara got its first power-play opportunity moments after RMU took the lead, but the Purple and White failed to tie the game with the man advantage.
• Justin Kendall would even the score with a power-play tally with under five minutes remaining in the stanza. Kendall took the pass from Cooley for the one-timer.
• The period came to a close with Niagara registering seven shots on net.
• Through two periods of action, Chad Veltri had 23 saves on 25 shots faced.
3rd Period
• Niagara and Robert Morris traded chances throughout the third period. At the media timeout (13:19), the Purple Eagles were out-shooting RMU, 12-9.
• After 60-minutes of action, Niagara and Robert Morris were all knotted up at 2-2.
• The Purple Eagles finished the stanza with six shots on goal, compared to five for the Colonials.
• RMU finished regulation with an advantage in shots on goal (31-22), faceoffs (41-31), while blocked shots were even (17-17).
Overtime
• Robert Morris’ Darcy Walsh scored the game-winning goal 4:42 into the extra period.
• Niagara challenged the goal, but the call on the ice would stand as called.
.
Game Notes
• Cooley finished the game with one goal, one assist, and two points. The senior now has four goals, three assists, and seven points in 2020-21.
• All three of Kendall’s goals this season have come against Robert Morris.
• Friday night was the sixth game to go to extra time for Niagara this season.
• Niagara falls to 2-4 all-time against RMU in the Atlantic Hockey playoffs.
• Ryan Cox was awarded the secondary assist on Kendall’s goal.
• Veltri made 33 saves, the most for the sophomore since the season-opener at RIT on Dec. 5.
Up Next
• Niagara will look to stave off elimination tomorrow night in game two of its Atlantic Hockey quarterfinal series with Robert Morris. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. from Clearview Arena in Pittsburgh, Pa.
