POTSDAM, N.Y. – Ending a three-game winning streak, the Niagara University men’s hockey team (3-4-0) fell to Clarkson University (2-4-0), 4-3, Saturday at Cheel Arena, on the campus of Clarkson.
Scoring the fourth and deciding goal for Clarkson was senior captain Mac Faulkner, who had two goals in the win. Shorthanded, Faulkner broke off a Niagara turnover near center ice and hit a low shot on the blocker side of Purple Eagles goaltender Jeff Van Nynatten (Stratford, Ont.) at 10:49 of the final period.
The Purple Eagles, despite being down by two goals following Faulkner’s second, got a late goal by junior Justin Cross (Camarillo, Calif.), making the score, 4-3, in favor of the Golden Knights with a little over a minute remaining in regulation.
Despite having a sixth attacker, with Van Nynatten pulled from the Niagara net, the Purple Eagles could not overcome the one-goal deficit, missing several late rebound opportunities following long shots from the point.
"We played another great road game," Niagara head coach Dave Burkholder said. "But in the end, their special teams beat our special teams. Anytime you give up a shorthanded goal in the third period with the game on the line, it's hard to come back on."
The Purple Eagles and Golden Knights traded first period goals, both being scored on two-man advantages.
Faulkner gave the Golden Knights a 1-0 lead at the 7:46 mark of the first period. After Purple Eagles senior Ryan Gale (St. Catharines, Ont.) and junior Brian Hartman (Pittsburgh, Pa.) picked up penalties at 6:31 of the opening period, Faulkner tallied his third goal of the season, tipping a pass from freshman Grant Clitsome over the right shoulder of Van Nynatten and into the top of the net.
Scoring his third goal in four games, sophomore defenseman Pat Oliveto (Rochester, N.Y.) tied the game at 10:15 of the first period, hitting a heavy shot over the right shoulder of Clarkson goaltender David Leggio from the left point. After Golden Knight penalties on freshmen Mike Arciero and Steve Zalewski, creating a Niagara two-man advantage, Cross found an open Oliveto at the blue line for the shot.
Zalewski gave Clarkson a 2-1 lead at 17:13 of the second period, lifting the puck over Van Nynatten after winning the faceoff draw.
Scoreless through six games, Cross scored his first goal of the season with 56 seconds left in the second period, tying the game at two goals a piece. Niagara senior captain Barret Ehgoetz’s (Kincardine, Ont.) pass into the crease found the stick of Cross, who deflected the puck into the upper-left corner of the net at 19:04 of the middle period.
The score remained tied heading into the final period.
Scoring the third goal for Clarkson was sophomore forward Brodie Rutherglen, who tallied his second goal of the season 43 seconds into the third period. Off a pass from senior Jay Latulippe, Rutherglen lifted the puck over the left shoulder of Van Nynatten near the Purple Eagles’ crease for the goal. Rutherglen broke towards the Niagara net near the right faceoff circle unmarked, hitting a wrister high past Van Nynatten.
The Golden Knights remained ahead, 3-2, leading to Faulkner’s game-winning goal.
Shots were in favor of Niagara, 28-25.
Leggio, playing in only the second game of his collegiate career, made 25 saves for his second win of the season.
Van Nynatten made 21 save in the loss for the Purple Eagles.
With his three assists in Saturday’s loss, Ehgoetz passes former Niagara forward Kyle Martin for fourth in career points in Niagara history. Ehgoetz has 130 career points on 58 goals and 72 assists.
The Purple Eagles conclude a four-week road trip next weekend, traveling to Western Michigan University for a two-game series Friday and Saturday.
