Senior Ryan Gale scored his fifth game-winning goal of the season.

Senior Barret Ehgoetz tied the Niagara all-time goals mark in the win.

NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – A short-handed goal by senior forward Ryan Gale led the Niagara University men’s hockey team (9-13-0, 4-5-0) to a 3-2 win over the U.S. Air Force Academy (11-10-2, 3-6-0) Friday at Dwyer Arena. In the win, senior captain Barret Ehgoetz (Kincardine, Ont.) tied the Niagara all-time goals mark.

With Air Force on the power play in the third period, Gale, a native of St. Catharines, Ontario, stole the puck at center ice. Taking the puck one-on-one with Falcons goaltender Peter Foster, Gale tucked the puck between the legs of the sophomore goaltender to score his team-leading fifth game-winning goal of the season at 3:26 of the third period.

"I like to go five-hole (between the legs)," Gale said of the breakaway goal. "It was there, so I took it. Team-wise, guys were going hard tonight."

The Falcons took a 1-0 lead just over four minutes into the first period when senior forward Ryan Wiggins followed a shot by linemate Jay Medenwaldt. After Medenwaldt’s shot hit the left post, Wiggins hustled to the loose puck in the goal crease, jabbing the puck into the Niagara net.

The Purple Eagles tied the game with Ehgoetz’s first goal of the contest at 16:15 of the opening period. On the power play, Ehgoetz, while on his knees in the crease, tipped a shot by fellow-senior Kris Wiebe (Lloydminster, Alb.) past Foster to score his 11th goal of the season.

After Falcons freshman forward Eric Ehn put Air Force back on top with his sixth goal of the season at 7:36 of the second period, Ehgoetz struck again, tying the game at 2-2 heading into the final period.

On a five-minute power play, after a game misconduct by Air Force sophomore Andrew Ramsey, Wiebe drove with the puck behind the net. With his drop pass, Wiebe found an open Ehgoetz in the slot for the one-time shot, which beat Foster low into the net.

Gale, among the national leaders in goals this season, surpassed his point total in his first three seasons (27) with his game-winning goal in the final period.

Scoring two power-play goals and adding a short-handed goal, the Niagara special teams can be looked upon as the difference in the contest, according to Purple Eagles head coach Dave Burkholder.

"You take what the game gives you," Burkholder said. "It was a special teams game tonight, we go 2-for-8 on the power play, they go 0-6. But five-on-five, we lose 2-0. We’ll see what tomorrow brings."

Niagara outshot Air Force, 21-18, in the contest.

Making his return in net after missing the past eight games with an injury, Niagara junior goaltender Jeff Van Nynatten (Stratford, Ont.) made 16 saves for the win, including nine saves in a shutout final period.

Foster made 18 saves in the loss for the Falcons.

"I felt rusty early on," Van Nynatten said. "I have to give credit to the six D (defensemen) in front of me. When you give up nine shots in the first two periods, it’s easier to win games."

Niagara concludes the two-game series with the Falcons Saturday at 7:05 p.m. at Dwyer Arena.

Already the Niagara all-time points leader (153), Ehgoetz’s two goals ties him with former Purple Eagle forward Peter DeSantis, both with 67 goals in their collegiate careers.