NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – Behind two goals by sophomore forward Justin Cross (Camarillo, Calif.), the Niagara University men’s hockey team (17-11-3, 12-3-0) defeated the U.S. Air Force Academy (12-17-2, 4-10-1), 4-1, at Dwyer Arena Friday.
Early in the second period, Cross scored his team-leading fourth game-winning goal of the season, shooting a low puck to the right corner past Falcons goaltender Mike Polidor and extending his point streak to eight games.
"I’m just trying to keep us rolling going into the tournament," Cross said. "If I get two goals, if I get no goals, it’s not really that big a deal as long as things keep going well (for the team)."
Senior Chris Welch (Tonawanda, N.Y.) put the Purple Eagles up 1-0 just three minutes prior to Cross’ goal. The senior forward took a pass from teammate Sean Bentivoglio (Thorold, Ont.), skated in one-on-one with Polidor, beat the retreating goaltender with an aggressive move to the right and buried the puck into the open net.
Carrying the two goal lead into the final period, Air Force Tom Starkey cut the deficit in half a little over two minutes into the third. Niagara sophomore goaltender Jeff VanNynatten (Stratford, Ont.) initially made two saves on shots by Starkey, however surrendered the goal when the forward lifted the puck high into the Purple Eagles’ net over the outstretched hand of the goaltender.
Not resting following Starkey’s goal, senior forward Joe Tallari (Thunder Bay, Ont.) scored his 14th goal of the season at the 5:27 mark of the third period, making the score 3-1 in favor of Niagara. Taking a pass from linemate Barret Ehgoetz (Kincardine, Ont.), who finished with three assists in the game, Tallari skated into an open space in front of the Falcons’ net and shot the puck low past Polidor, extending his point streak to eight games.
Cross added his second goal of the contest at 9:27 of the third period, hitting a pinpoint shot into the top-right corner past Polidor and putting an exclamation point on an impressive Niagara win.
"Very inspired by the way Tallari, Cross and Ehgoetz played again," Niagara head coach Dave Burkholder said following the win. "Jeff (VanNynatten), when he was tested, made some saves in the second period to keep us in it. We took care of the puck and didn’t have many turnovers."
With shots even at 38, VanNynatten made 37 saves to pick up his 14th win of the season (leading the College Hockey America conference). Polidor made 34 saves for Air Force.
Both teams capitalized on power-play opportunities in the contest, with Niagara going 1-6 and the Falcons scoring on 1-of-8 man-advantages.
Niagara remained undefeated (15-0-3) when entering the third period either leading or tied.
Coupled with a Bemidji State tie with Alabama-Huntsville, the Purple Eagles enter Saturday’s game just one point behind the league-leading Beavers. Niagara hosts the Falcons in the second game of the two-game series tomorrow at Dwyer Arena at 7:05 p.m.
