NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. - Six consecutive goals by the Niagara men's hockey team (6-12-2, 2-3-1 CHA) made sure the Purple Eagles would go down in CHA lore as the only unbeaten team in league history, as the Purple Eagles upset the No. 11 Bemidji State Beavers (14-5-2, 8-1-0 CHA) on Friday night at Dwyer Arena.

Niagara's first victory over a ranked foe since a 4-3 defeat of No. 14 Clarkson at home last season made sure that the only team that will ever have finished a season of CHA play unbeaten is the 1999-00 Niagara team that went 15-0-2 en route to a berth in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament.

"To go undefeated in 1999-00, was a credit to the team, along with some lucky bounces and timely wins," assistant coach Greg Gardner said. "For us tonight, we look at it as a nice victory against a ranked opponent."

Head coach Dave Burkholder's 150th career-win didn't come easy, as the Beavers jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the first period. Bemidji would score on its first power-play shot of the game, a point shot by Ian Lowe that beat sophomore netminder Chris Noonan (Portage, Mich.) for the 1-0 lead. Ryan Cramer would add one more goal late in the first period to put the Purps into a 2-0 hole.

The Purps soared out of the hole they were in, by scoring six consecutive goals, starting with freshman C.J. Chartrain (Point-Claire, Que.) jamming home a rebound from a Paul Zanette (Nobleton, Ont.) shot to come within one nearly halfway through the middle stanza. The Purple Eagles would tie it at the 18:47 mark of the second period, when freshman Giancarlo Iuorio (Richmond Hill, Ont.) one-timed the puck from the slot past Beavers netminder Dan Bakala . Thirty-nine seconds after Iuorio tied it, junior Derek Foam (Mississauga, Ont.) netted his first of the season to give Niagara a 3-2 lead after two periods of play.

About five minutes into the third period, freshman Marc Zanette (Nobleton, Ont.) stole the puck from a Bemidji defender and skated in on Bakala, beating him high, glove-side for the 4-2 lead. Fifty-seven seconds later, Paul Zanette was curling around Bakala when he sent a nice backhanded pass to junior Bryan Haczyk (Nutley, N.J.) who cashed in for the eventual game-winning goal, which was his second in as many games. Marc Zanette rounded out Niagara scoring by going strong to the net and tipping the puck into the net, giving the Purps a 6-2 lead.

The Beavers went down swinging, scoring twice in 23 seconds late in the third period, but it wasn't enough.

"We clearly had a bad start," head coach Dave Burkholder said. "For the rest of the game it was simple. The team wearing white outworked the team wearing green."

Marc Zanette set a new career-high in goals and points with two goals and two points against the Beavers, while Foam tied his career-high with two points. Senior Chris Moran (Buffalo, N.Y.) picked up his 90th career assist on Foam's second period goal, placing him in second place on Niagara's All-Time Assist list, just five helpers behind Barret Ehgoetz.. Moran now has at least a point in 13 of his last 14 games.

The Purple Eagles are back in action on Saturday, Jan. 16, when they take on the No. 11 Bemidji State Beavers once more. Saturday's game will be broadcast live on Time Warner Sports Net Buffalo.

Bryan Haczyk's goal against Dan Bakala