CANTON, N.Y. – Junior Matt Caruana’s (Orono, Ont.) goal with just over five minutes remaining gave the Niagara University men’s hockey team (1-1-0) a 4-3 win over St. Lawrence University (1-1-0) Saturday night at Appleton Arena.

Caruana tallied the game-winning goal when sophomore Vince Rocco (Woodbridge, Ont.) hit him with a pass as the forward was streaking down the left side. Senior Sean Bentivoglio (Thorold, Ont.) picked up the last of his three assists on the play.

Sophomore Ted Cook (Hogansburg, N.Y.) opened the scoring for the Purple Eagles when Bentivoglio shot, sophomore Les Reaney (Ceylon, Sask.) collected the rebound and fed Cook for an open net goal.

St. Lawrence tied the game on Jared Ross’ goal, but Rocco scored 18 seconds later on a quick wrist shot. Bentivoglio and Caruana picked up assists.

Cook scored his second power-play goal of the night when Reaney’s pass through the crease found Cook as he came out of the corner and beat the Saints’ goalie on the short side.

St. Lawrence’s Zach Miskovic made it 3-2 at the end of the second and then tied the game at 3-3 at 9:32 of the third before Caruana’s game-winning goal.

Sophomore Juliano Pagliero (Dalroy, Alb.) picked up his first collegiate win, making 38 saves in net.

Niagara returns to action Thursday when it hosts Colgate at Blue Cross Arena at 7 p.m.

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