NIAGARA UN., N.Y. – The No. 20 men’s hockey team (14-8-3) dominated the third period, outscoring 16th-ranked Quinnipiac (11-7-4) 3-0 en route to a 5-2 victory inside Dwyer Arena, Friday. The Purple Eagles cashed in on all three breakaway opportunities in the final stanza to improve their record on their home ice to 8-0-1 this season. The win was Niagara’s first against a ranked opponent since it defeated then-No. 14 New Hampshire last season.

The Purple Eagles have played their best hockey when it matters most, outscoring opponents 38-21 in the final frame this year. Senior Sean Bentivoglio (Thorold, Ont.) tallied the game winner four minutes into the third period, and sophomore Kyle Rogers (Erie, Pa.) found the back of the net twice in 18 seconds to give Niagara breathing room.

"This was a great bounce-back game for us," Niagara head coach Dave Burkholder said. "I liked our demeanor before the game and I thought that we had a great week of practice. The third period has really been the best period all year for us, and it was again tonight."

Sophomore Juliano Pagliero (Dalroy, Alb.) earned his 10th win of the season, making 28 saves. The Bobcats’ had built momentum after a quick goal and three power-play chances in the middle frame, but the Purple Eagle netminder continued his hot streak and shut the door on their attack.

Junior Matt Caruana (Orono, Ont.) got the third period started, picking a Bobcat defender’s pocket in the neutral zone. The forward raced ahead, made goaltender Bud Fisher commit to the right side of the net, and passed the puck back to Bentivoglio in front. The captain made a backhand move to beat Fisher for the game-winning tally.

Rogers then had two breakaways of his own in the span of 18 seconds. Freshman Chris Moran (Buffalo, N.Y.) had a hand in both scores, first stealing the puck at center ice and handing off to the sophomore winger, and then finding Les Reaney (Ceylon, Sask.) and Rogers on the fast break after a faceoff. Both of Rogers’ goals were scored from point-blank range on the right side of the net.

Sophomore Ted Cook (Hogansburg, N.Y.) scored a pair of goals in the first period to give Niagara a 2-1 leading going into the first intermission. The forward, who leads the nation with 23 goals, received the puck from behind the net and slammed it home for a 1-0 lead seven minutes into the contest. After Quinnipiac tied the score with a rebound goal after the initial shot hit the post, Cook found himself alone in front of the net again.

The sophomore got the rebound off a shot from Dan Sullivan (Scarborough, Ont.) at a tough angle to the left of the net. Cook flipped the puck toward the Bobcat goalie and beat him in his five hole.

"I was just trying to put the puck on net," Cook explained. "I saw (Rocco) coming toward the net and I just wanted to give him a rebound chance, but it got through."

Niagara and Quinnipiac finish off their ranked series, Saturday, at 7 p.m., at Dwyer Arena.