NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – Senior forward Joe Tallari (Thunder Bay, Ont.) scored the game-tying goal with 10 seconds remaining in the third period, as the Niagara University men’s hockey team (10-8-2) tied Colgate University (8-7-3), 2-2, at Dwyer Arena Saturday. The Purple Eagles fought back from two goals down to even the game at 2-2 with time running out in regulation.
"Another great comeback for us," Niagara head coach Dave Burkholder said following the tie. "We’re almost developing a personality where it doesn’t matter what the score is, we’ll just keep coming at you."
Down a goal with little over a minute remaining in regulation, Niagara pulled goaltender Jeff VanNynatten (Stratford, Ont.), adding an extra attacker for the Purple Eagles. Keeping the puck in the Raider defensive zone -- thanks to relentless pressure on the Colgate defense and determined forechecking -- junior forward Barret Ehgoetz (Kincardine, Ont.) found an open Tallari on the backdoor of Raider net. Tallari quickly swept the puck into the Colgate goal at 19:50 of the third period, scoring his fourth goal of the season and completing the Niagara comeback.
"Our team has been doing very well in the third period," Tallari said. "Our guys step up and score goals when they’re needed, and I’m glad I got the one tonight."
An up-and-down game through the first two periods, with both teams misfiring on scoring opportunities, Colgate defenseman Rob Brown and forward Darryl McKinnon put the visitors up two goals within the first six minutes of the third period, beating VanNynatten with swift and aggressive attacks by the Raider offense.
At 9:36 of the third period, Ehgoetz scored his team-leading 14th goal of the season, following a shot by teammate Chris Welch (Tonawanda, N.Y.) and reducing the Colgate lead to one goal.
With VanNynatten, who regrouped after allowing two-straight goals to the Raiders, keeping Niagara in the contest with several acrobatic saves, the goal by Tallari culminated the continued effort of the overall Niagara team.
"Again, Barret, at the end, did what he had to do with a couple of guys all over him. He threw it to the net front and we got the (tying) goal," Burkholder said. "Another gritty game and we’ll take it."
Niagara, which is 1-1-1 against Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) opponents this season, was outshot by Colgate, 24-21, in the game. VanNynatten made 22 saves for the Purple Eagles in the tie, with Raider goaltender Steve Silverthorn making 19 saves.
Following Saturday’s tie with Colgate, Niagara returns to College Hockey America (CHA) conference play when it hosts Bemidji State Jan. 9. The Purple Eagles, who are unbeaten in their last four contests at Dwyer Arena, and Bemidji continue to battle for first place in the CHA standings, with Bemidji leading the conference with a record of 7-1-0 (14 points) in CHA play.
"Next week against Bemidji will be two games just like tonight," Burkholder said. "No game’s over with, with this team, which I think is a great quality."
