NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – Led by a goal and two assists by junior forward Justin Cross (Camarillo, Calif.), the Niagara University men’s hockey team (5-6-0) completed a two-game sweep of Quinnipiac University (3-4-0) Saturday at Dwyer Arena. The Purple Eagles defeated the Bobcats, 4-1, behind a season-high 48 shots.

Niagara took the lead just 1:41 into the first period when senior forward Kris Wiebe (Lloydminster, Alb.) scored his third goal of the season. After Cross, battling for the puck deep behind the Bobcats’ net, dropped the puck back to Wiebe, the senior forward pivoted around the left side of Quinnipiac net, firing a wrist shot into the upper-right corner of the net to give the Purple Eagles a 1-0 lead.

"The goal definitely gave us some momentum," Wiebe said, when asked if his early goal jumpstarted the offense for Niagara. "More importantly, the boys followed up afterwords and gave us some life."

The continued attack following Wiebe’s tally paid dividends as senior and leading-goal scorer Ryan Gale (St. Catharines, Ont.) scored his eighth goal of the season at 12:02 of the first period. Controlling a pass from senior Barret Ehgoetz (Kincardine, Ont.) from in-between the faceoff circles, Gale quickly hit a low shot just out of the reach of Quinnipiac goaltender Jamie Holden’s right skate and into the lower-left corner of the net, giving Niagara a 2-0 lead after the opening period.

The Purple Eagles carried a 21-12 lead in shots following the first period.

With a two-goal advantage, Niagara junior forward Marc Norrington (Grand Blanc, Mich.) scored in his second-straight game, hitting a one-time slap shot from the right point at 17:43 of the second period. On the power play, Norrington set up on the point, hitting a pass from Cross into the roof of the net and scoring his second goal of the season.

Cross added the final Niagara goal at 9:32 of the final period. Bombarding Holden with consecutive shots by Wiebe and freshman Matt Caruana (Orono, Ont.) near the Quinnipiac goal crease, Cross pounced on a loose puck in the crease, jamming a shot over the goal line in the nick of time, as the net was knocked off the pegs seconds after Cross’ shot.

Senior Chris White scored the lone goal for Quinnipiac at 6:03 of the third period.

On the weekend, the line of Wiebe, Caruana and Cross contributed with three of the seven goals scored for the Purple Eagles, including two of four goals in Saturday’s victory over the Bobcats.

"To come home and get it done and sweep makes it all worthwhile," Niagara head coach Dave Burkholder said. "Hockey-wise, when we have two good lines contributing and scoring, we’re hard to shut down. I thought we had a solid weekend out of our goalie as well."

As the Purple Eagles outshot Quinnipiac, 48-30, in the win, freshman goaltender Scott Mollison (Winnipeg, Man.) won his second consecutive game, making 29 saves in his second career start in net for Niagara. Holden made 44 saves for the Bobcats in the loss.

Niagara converted two of its seven power-play opportunities, holding Quinnipiac to 0-for-4 on the power play.

With Saturday’s win, the Purple Eagles extended their unbeaten streak of teams from the Atlantic Hockey conference to five games, dating back to a 6-2 win over Canisius Jan. 25, 2003.

Niagara opens College Hockey America conference play next weekend, hosting defending CHA Regular Season Champions Bemidji State University at Dwyer Arena Friday and Saturday.