NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – The Purple Eagles hockey team was defeated 7-2 in its fourth and final game of the season against the American International Yellow Jackets Saturday night at Dwyer Arena. Vinny Muto led Niagara with a goal and an assist, his second two-point game in his last three appearances. Kris Spriggs rounded out the Niagara scoring with his sixth tally of the season and second in as many nights.
 
Game Summary

• Final Score: American International 7, Niagara 2
• Niagara Goal Scorers: Vinny Muto, Kris Spriggs
• Niagara Assists: Christian Cakebread, Keegan Harper, Vinny Muto, TJ Sarcona
• In Goal: Joe O'Brien (1-5-1): 7 GA, 24 SV
• Power Plays: Niagara – 0-for-7 (16 SOG); American International – 1-for-3 (5 SOG)
• Records: Niagara – 3-18-3 (3-13-2 AHC); American International – 7-13-6 (6-9-5 AHC)
• Location: Dwyer Arena – Niagara University, N.Y.
• Attendance: 784

 
Game Recap

• Niagara had three power plays in the first 10 minutes, including an extended 5-on-3 chance just past the six-minute mark of the first period. American International held the Purple Eagles' attack at bay and picked up a shorthanded marker courtesy of Kyle Stephan to open the scoring.
• Right after the expiration of AIC's third penalty, Vinny Muto wristed a shot past Yellow Jackets goaltender Alex Murray to even the score at one. Keegan Harper and TJ Sarcona picked up the assists on the play.
• At the 15:49 mark of the first, AIC's Jackson Dudley picked off a pass at the Niagara blue line, and Dominik Florian converted at the end of the play, making it 2-1 Yellow Jackets after 20 minutes.
• Niagara tied the game once again on the rush just four minutes into the second period. Muto ripped a shot off the right pad of Murray and the rebound came right to Kris Spriggs on the left wing. The freshman fired the shot into an open goal, picking up his sixth goal of the season.
• Just 1:14 after Spriggs tied the game, however, AIC got the eventual game-winning goal from Austin Orszulak, who set up in the low slot and buried a feed from May from behind the Niagara goal.
• Dudley tacked on two more goals for AIC, including a power-play tally in the second period to push the lead to 5-2.
• Jared Pike and Hugo Reinhardt scored 49 seconds apart late in the third period to bring the score to the final of 7-2.

 
Coach's Corner

• Head coach David Burkholder: "With a short bench, what we didn't want to do was get into a track meet with a transition team. We didn't want to get into that type of game, but they finished on their chances and we didn't."

 
Inside the Numbers

• After posting a season-high with 45 shots on goal last night, Niagara came close to matching that total with 42 in Saturday's loss to AIC, making it the team's second-highest output of the season.
• Vinny Muto picked up a goal and an assist for the second time in three games, after doing so on Jan. 14 in a 3-1 win over the Bentley Falcons. He now has seven multiple-point games as a Purple Eagle, second among all current players.
• Kris Spriggs' goal gave him sole possession of the team scoring lead, as the freshman has six goals and six assists for 12 points in 21 games.
• Christian Cakebread picked up an assist on Spriggs' goal, and midseason acquisition has four points (1+3) in his first six games as a Purple Eagle.

 
Up Next

• Niagara has a quick turnaround this week, as the team opens the four-game Battle of the Bridge series at Canisius on Tuesday, Jan. 24. Opening faceoff between Niagara and Canisius is set for 7:35 p.m. Jeremy White has the play-by-play call on 1340 AM WLVL, and the game can be seen regionally on Time Warner Cable SportsChannel.

 
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