PITTSBURGH – Scoring three third period goals, the Niagara University men’s hockey team (10-13-1, 5-5-1) played to a 4-4 draw with Robert Morris University (5-14-4, 1-8-2) Friday at the Island Sports Center, in Pittsburgh.
Although outshooting the Colonials by a large, 46-24, margin, the Purple Eagles had to battle back from a 3-1 deficit heading into the final period.
Leading the Niagara comeback effort in the third period was senior forward Kris Wiebe (Lloydminster, Alb.), who tallied two goals -- three points -- in the third period.
"We’ve got some good leaders on the team," Wiebe said. "I guess in the third period we decided to step it up, but it took a little bit of motivating."
Early in the third period, down by two goals, Wiebe scored his sixth goal of the season, one-timing a pass from senior captain Barret Ehgoetz (Kincardine, Ont.) into the top-right corner of the net. With Wiebe cutting through the slot, Ehgoetz found the senior forward for the goal at 55 seconds of the third period, cutting the Robert Morris lead to a goal.
The Colonials showed no signs of retreat following Wiebe’s first tally, as freshman Joe Federoff found an opening behind the Purple Eagles’ defense, taking a pass from teammate Kurt Wright in on Niagara goaltender Jeff Van Nynatten (Stratford, Ont.). With the puck on his forehand, Federoff’s wrister slipped just underneath the crossbar, flying over Van Nynatten’s right shoulder and extending the Robert Morris lead back to two goals at 4:11.
After Wiebe scored his second goal of the contest -- taking advantage of a power play -- at 7:45 of the third period, Ehgoetz sent the game into overtime, scoring his 13th goal of the season with less than three minutes remaining in regulation. Jockeying with the puck behind the Colonials net, Wiebe dumped the puck to Ehgoetz in the slot. Ehgoetz promptly beat Robert Morris goaltender Christian Boucher low for the game-tying goal at 17:44.
In overtime, Niagara continued to attack the Robert Morris net, outshooting the Colonials, 4-1, in the extra period. However, the Purple Eagles failed to capitalize on any of its scoring chances, as the game ended in a 4-4 draw.
Niagara took a 1-0 lead midway through the first period after freshman C.J. Tozzo (New Rochelle, N.Y.) scored his first career goal at 12:21 mark of the period. Driving towards the Robert Morris net, Tozzo beat a screened Boucher low from the right faceoff circle.
Following the Tozzo goal, the Purple Eagles conceded three consecutive goals to the Colonials, falling behind 3-1 heading into the second intermission.
Former Niagara forward Doug Conley tied the score just 39 seconds following the Tozzo goal, slipping the puck just between the left post and Van Nynatten at the 13 minute mark of the first period.
Robert Morris freshmen Joel Gasper and Andrew Bonello added second period goals, giving the Colonials the two-goal lead after two periods.
Boucher (5-11-4) made a career-high 42 saves in the tie, with Van Nynatten (5-5-1) making 20 saves in 65 minutes.
Scoring the game-tying goal late in the third period, Ehgoetz became the all-time leading goal scorer in Niagara history, passing former Purple Eagle forward Peter DeSantis with his 68th career goal.
Niagara and Robert Morris conclude the two-game College Hockey America conference series Saturday at 7:35 p.m.
Extending its unbeaten streak to four games, Niagara head coach Dave Burkholder mentioned the importance of this weekend’s series following the game.
"It’s that time of year you have to get points in the CHA," Burkholder said. "It’s a weekend we need to get points and, thank God, we played a great third period and at least get a point on the road."
