POTSDAM, N.Y. - For the third consecutive game dating back to the end of the 2008-09 season, the Niagara men's hockey team (0-1-1) entered an extra session of hockey, coming up on the wrong end of a 4-3 score against the Clarkson Golden Knights (1-2-0) on Friday night at Cheel Arena.

Sophomore netminder Chris Noonan (Portage, Mich.) was inserted into the Niagara line up for the first time in his career at the start of the third period, making big save after big save to help push the game into overtime. Clarkson however would score the game-winning goal with 43 seconds left in the overtime period, when a shot right in front of Noonan caught his glove and squeaked into the net.  

"For Noonan to come off the bench and give us a chance to win the game was great," head coach Dave Burkholder said. "In his first collegiate minutes in net, he made several huge saves."

Clarkson took an early 1-0 lead just three and a half minutes into the game, when a shot from the blueline by Tim Marks was deflected and beat junior netminder Adam Avramenko (Strathmore, Alb.) low, glove side. The Purple Eagles peppered Golden Knights goalie Richie LaVeau with 16 shots on goal, but went into the first intermission down by one.

The Purps would come out soaring in the middle frame, with senior Tyler Gotto (Calgary, Alb.) scoring his first of the season on a strong wrister from the slot, that went over the glove of LaVeau just 2:29 in. About three minutes later, a wobbly puck entered the Niagara offensive zone, where junior Paul Zanette (Nobleton, Ont.) lunged past the Clarkson defender and tipped the puck over LaVeau for the 2-1 lead. Clarkson would respond, scoring twice in the last 1:10 of the second period to take a 3-2 lead into the dressing room, despite Niagara outshooting the Golden Knights 14-9.

Niagara would tie things at three with 5:51 left in the third period, when sophomore Sam Goodwin (St. Louis, Mo.) broke out of an aggressive forecheck, skated in to the right of LaVeau and ripped a shot from the right faceoff circle that beat the Clarkson netminder on his glove side for the second time of the night.

"The momentum swings were unbelivable," Burkholder said. "We took control of the game in the second period, but breakdowns towards the end of the period hurt us. I thought we deserved better in the end."

The Purple Eagles return to the ice on Saturday night, taking on ECAC foe St. Lawrence at 7 p.m., with the call by Jeremy White heard on WJJL 1440 AM.