NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – A three-goal first period spearheaded the Niagara University men’s hockey team (18-11-3, 13-3-0) to a 5-1 win over the U.S. Air Force Academy (12-18-2, 4-11-1) Saturday at Dwyer Arena. Five different Niagara players contributed with goals in the win.
The Purple Eagles took the lead in the contest just 27 seconds into the opening period. Sophomore forward Justin Cross (Camarillo, Calif.) continued where he left off the previous evening, finishing a rebound off a shot from linemate Joe Tallari (Thunder Bay, Ont.) early in the first period. Friday, Cross -- who extended his point streak to nine games -- had two goals, leading Niagara to a three-goal victory over the Falcons.
A Ryan Gale (St. Catharines, Ont.) finish on a one-on-one with Air Force goaltender Peter Foster, in which Gale backhanded the puck low past the goaltender, gave the Purple Eagles a 2-0 lead at the 6:21 mark of the first.
Scoring for Niagara continued when senior Chris Welch (Tonawanda, N.Y.) scored his second goal in as many contests. With the Purple Eagles on the power-play, and Foster screened by a group of Niagara players in front of the net, a long shot from the point from Welch gave the Purple Eagles a 3-0 lead with less than a second remaining in the opening period. The puck seemed to trickle under the screened Foster, who was pulled for senior Mike Polidor after allowing three goals in the first period.
Following a scoreless second period, junior Barret Ehgoetz (Kincardine, Ont.) scored his team-high 24th goal of the season, tipping a shot from Cross past Polidor.
Freshman Aaron Clarke (Peterborough, Ont.) closed out scoring for Niagara late in the final period, capping off the four-goal victory.
The lone Falcons goal came from sophomore forward Mike Knaeble at the 14:45 mark of the third period.
Ehgoetz, the national leader in points (as of Feb. 20), knows the importance of the weekend sweep of Air Force.
"It was just two huge wins to get when we’re chasing Bemidji (State) for first place in the CHA," Ehgoetz said. "We just got to keep winning during this homestand and see what happens the last weekend over there (Bemidji)."
Sophomore goaltender Jeff VanNynatten (Stratford, Ont.) -- who stopped several point-blank Falcon shots near his goal crease -- made 27 saves for his conference-leading 15th win of the season. The sophomore goaltender, who’s play was commended by Niagara head coach Dave Burkholder, stopped 64 of 66 shots in the two Purple Eagle victories over Air Force.
Foster made 17 saves in the first period, earning the loss, with Polidor making 15 saves in the final two periods. Shots were in favor of Niagara, 37-28.
The Purple Eagles play their final home series of the season next weekend, hosting the University of Findlay Friday and Saturday.
Burkholder, impressed with his team’s play in the two wins, thought the key to Saturday’s win was the overall team defense.
"We had a season-high in blocked shots in a very physical game," Burkholder said. "I thought we played great, very inspired, and that’s what it’s going to take to be a champion in the playoffs."
