Complete Box Score

ERIE, Pa - Robert Morris scored four second period goals and withstood a late Mercyhurst rally to edge the Lakers 4-3 Friday night before another large and enthusiastic crowd at the Ice Center. The Colonials improved to 4-6-0 overall and to 2-2-0 in the Atlantic Hockey Association. The Lakers had their four-game winning streak snapped in falling to 4-5-0 and 3-1-0 respectively. 

Mercyhurst freshman forward Kyle Johnson scored the only goal of the opening period at 3:26 when his rebound shot eluded RMU senior netminder Brooks Ostergard. It was Johnson's first collegiate goal. He was helped by linemates, sophomore John Mousso and freshman Zac Frischmon. The Colonials, who were buzzing around the Mercyhurst goal as the period ended, outshot the Lakers 12 to 9.

Robert Morris tied the game at 3:59 of the second when senior forward Nick Chiavetta scored his first of back-to-back goals. His second of the game, at 9:34, gave the Colonials a lead they wouldn't relinquish. The lamplighter began a string of three goals within a 2:40 span. Senior forward Cody Crichton (10:43) and freshman winger Scott Jacklin (12:14) completed the trifecta and forced the Lakers to spend their timeout. There was no further scoring in the period, one in which Robert Morris outshot Mercyhurst 21-10.

Freshman forward Nardo Nagtzaam got the crowd back into the game early in the final period when he scored his third goal of the season at 5:20. Senior co-captain Derek Elliott had the lone assist. Mercyhhurst drew within a goal at 9:34 when freshman winger Chris Bodo notched his second goal of the season, with help from his linemates, senior Grant Blakey and freshman Daniel Bahntge. With Mercyhurst continuing to press, the Colonials used their timeout at 13:37. Mercyhurst was able to pull Strang with under a minute to play in regulation, but Robert Morris survived.

Mercyhurst outshot Robert Morris 14-9 in the third but the Colonials owned a 42-33 advantage overall. Half of Robert Morris' shots came during its four-goal second period. The Lakers were penalized six times for twelve minutes in the contest while the Colonials were tagged four times for eight minutes. Neither team converted a power play chance.

Mercyhurst will have precious little time to regroup as first-place Air Force visits Saturday night. The Falcons were clipped 3-1 at Rochester Institute of Technology Friday night, dropping them to 4-1-1 in conference play.

Additional Notes:
Nagtzaam's goal tied him for the team lead with Elliott at three apiece...Sophomore winger Daniel O'Donoghue had his four-game scoring streak snapped...The Lakers entered play with only 40 minutes in penalties in eight games, making them the least penalized Division I team in the nation...Their six minor penalties Friday represented a season one-game high...Mousso saw his first action of the season ...Blakey and Elliott have produced points in three of their last four contests.