HAMILTON, N.Y. - The Niagara men's hockey team (0-5-1) couldn't hold onto a second period lead, dropping a 4-2 game to ECAC foe Colgate (2-2-3) on Saturday night at Staar rink.

"I think this road trip is catching up to us," head coach Dave Burkholder said. "We play this tough schedule to get us ready for March. We have to stay positive, take things from today's game and move on."

The Purple Eagles dented the scoreboard first, when freshman Marc Zanette (Nobleton, Ont.) scored off of a rebound, short-handed late in the opening 20 minutes. The Purple Eagles headed into the dressing room with a 1-0 lead and momentum on their side.

Colgate would tie it at one early in the second stanza, but Niagara would respond. Junior Bryan Haczyk (Nutley, N.J.) would send a nice saucer pass to junior Paul Zanette (Nobleton, Ont.), which allowed him to come in alone on Raiders netminder Charles Long and stuff it past him on the forehand.Niagara's lead however would not hold, as four minutes later the Raiders tied the game at two.

Colgate would add two more in the final stanza, to round out scoring. Freshman Andrew Hare (Burlington, Ont) made 28 saves in his collegiate debut.

Niagara is back in action on Nov. 6, when they finish its six-game road trip against the UMass Minutemen.