NEVILLE ISLAND, Pa. – Sophomore Mike Ruberto recorded a career-high five points, while linemates Joel Kitchen and Michael Cohen each set career-highs with four points as the Canisius College ice hockey team skated past host Robert Morris University 6-4 at the RMU Island Sports Center Sunday afternoon in the season opener for both squads.

Canisius opened the scoring at the 4:10 mark of the opening period on a goal by Michael Cohen. Mike Ruberto started the play with a pass up the left boards to Joel Kitchen, which opened a 2-on-1 Canisius break. Kitchen skated in with the puck and found a wide-open Cohen with a pass for a 1-0 Canisius advantage. The Griffs added a second goal at the 10:38 mark on a marker by Chris Angelo. Greg Brown and Spencer Churchill assisted on the goal that was tipped past Robert Morris netminder Christian Boucher.

The Blue and Gold extended their lead to 3-0 with 5:27 remaining in the first period on a tally by Ruberto, giving him two points in the opening 20 minutes of action. John Patera’s shot from the right boards was redirected by Ruberto from in front of the net and the Griffs held a three-goal lead. Robert Morris closed the period with a flurry, scoring two goals in the final two minutes to close the gap to 3-2. Chris Margott’s goal with 1:55 left cut the Canisius lead to 3-1, while a power-play goal by Chris Kaufman with 45.8 seconds remaining sliced the Griffs’ advantage to a single goal.

Canisius put up three more goals in the second period to take a 6-2 lead, before a late Robert Morris goal made the score 6-3 after 40 minutes of action. Kitchen tallied his first of the evening at the 14:05 mark, redirecting a shot by Ruberto past Boucher from the slot. Cohen picked up his first assist on the goal. While on a 5-on-3 advantage, Kitchen scored his second of the night at the 17:34 mark of the period. Kitchen was on the receiving end of passes from Cohen and Ruberto to extend the Griffs’ lead. The trio made the scoresheet again just 25 seconds later as Ruberto scored his second of the night, this time Kitchen joined Cohen on the helpers. The Colonials cut the Canisius lead to 6-3 with 1:46 remaining in the period on a goal by Joey Olsen.

Margott’s second goal, a power-play goal at the 16:35 mark of the third period, made the score 6-4, but the Griffs would hold on in the final minutes for the win.

Dan Giffin posted 38 saves for his first collegiate victory in the Blue and Gold. Boucher recorded 13 saves in the loss for RMU.

Canisius returns to action Friday, Oct. 14, as it takes the ice against local rival Niagara University at the Buffalo State Sports Arena. Game time is set for 7 p.m.