BOX SCORE

OMAHA, Neb. (10/7/11) – Robbie Bourdon and Kurtis Bartliff each posted two points with a goal and assist apiece, while the rookies also made an impact as the Colgate men's hockey team beat Robert Morris, 3-1, in the season opener at the Mutual of Omaha Stampede.

Colgate (1-0) got goals from Bourdon, Bartliff and rookie Joe Wilson. Rookie John Lidgett made his presence felt in his first collegiate game with two assists. Austin Smith and McCann also earned assists in the win. Netminder Alex Evin pushed aside 16 shots to start the season with a victory. All 16 saves came after giving up a goal on his first shot faced.

Robert Morris (0-1) got its lone goal in the first period from Trevor Lewis with the assist to Ron Cramer. Brooks Ostergard made 17 saves in the loss.

The Colonials went up 1-0 on their first shot of the contest, which came on the power play. Lewis received a pass from Cramer on a rush and put a shot past the glove of Evin, just 3:59 into the first period. The Raiders evened the score with 1:14 left in the opening frame as Bourdon was able to put home a rebound. Lidgett was given the assist for his first collegiate point after putting the first shot on net. Colgate had nine shots to five for the Colonials, but RMU scored on special teams, while the Raiders didn't get a chance on the power play.

Bartliff gave the Raiders their first lead at 2-1 with a goal 6:17 into the second period. Once again it was a rebound that came free to Bartliff during a scrum in front of the net. Lidgett was given his second helper of the night and Bourdon recorded his second point with an assist. Wagner almost made it 3-1 after a turnover by RMU and he deked Ostergard and flipped the puck off the post for the second time in the game.

The Raiders got a much-needed insurance goal after being snake bitten in the early part of the third period. Smith entered the zone with McCann down the center and Wilson on the opposite wing. He slipped a pass to Wilson, who one-timed the puck into the net for his first collegiate goal. McCann was given an assist as well after giving the puck to Smith in the neutral zone.

Colgate got three chances on the power play and came up empty on each opportunity, while Robert Morris went 1-for-4 on the man advantage. The Raiders won the shot battle by a 20-17 margin.

The Raiders will play in the championship game of the Mutual of Omaha Stampede tomorrow night against No.14 Nebraska-Omaha at 8:07 p.m. EST.

NOTES: The second line of Bartliff, Bourdon and Lidgett combined for two goals and six points … Lidgett becomes first rookie with two assists since Smith did so against UMass Lowell in 2008 … Raiders get goal from a rookie in the season opener for the second-straight year after McCann scored last year … Colgate was 4-18-3 after giving up first goal in 2010-11 … this was the eighth meeting since 2007-08 between these two schools and that is the most against a non-conference opponent over that period of time … Wagner was snake bitten all night as he hit the post twice and was robbed by Ostergard two times as well and then missed an open net at the end of the game … Colgate is 9-7-3 in season openers under Don Vaughan … Raiders have gone unbeaten in nine of their last 10 season openers … Colgate ends two-game losing streak to RMU and lead the series, 5-2-1 ... Vaughan wins his 295th career game as Colgate's head coach.