HOFFMAN ESTATES, ILL. - Behind a two-goal effort by senior Egor Mironov (Thornhill, Ont.), the Niagara men's hockey team (4-11-2, 1-3-1 CHA) defeated the Colgate Raiders (7-8-4, 5-3-1 ECAC) by a score of 5-1 in the consolation game of the 2010 Shillelagh Tournament on Sunday afternoon.

The senior notched his seventh multi-goal game of his career by striking for two goals in the second period, which put the game out of reach. Mironov's play not only helped Niagara improve to 3-1-1 in its last five games against Colgate, but also propelled him into ninth place on Niagara's career goal-scoring list, passing former teammate Vince Rocco with his 46th and his 47th career goals.

"Today was one of the most complete efforts of the season," head coach Dave Burkholder said. "We put a point of emphasis on putting pucks on net.  We did an unbelivable job of keeping it simple and looking for rebound goals." 

The Purps opened scoring late in the first period, when freshman Dan Weiss (Ballwin, Mo.) picked up his first career point by sending a cross-ice pass to junior David Ross (Bowmanville, Ont.), who entered the zone and ripped a rising slap shot over the glove of Raider netminder Charles Long. Niagara would strike again 58 seconds later on the man-advantage, when senior Chris Moran (Buffalo, N.Y.) cut to the net and found fellow senior Ryan Olidis (Uxbridge, Ont.) with a centering feed on the doorstep, which he banged home to extend both of their consecutive game point streaks to 11 games.

After Colgate cut the lead in half, it was Mironov's time to shine. Late in the second, Weiss was against the near boards and sent a wobbly pass to the side of the net, which Mironov put past a sprawling Long for the 3-1 lead. Just about four minutes later on the man-advantage, Moran skated into the slot and set up Mironov for a snap shot one-timer, which beat Long stick side for the 4-1 lead.

Niagara rounded out scoring halfway through the third period, when freshman Marc Zanette (Nobleton, Ont.) scored his third goal in as many games against Colgate, by finding a loose puck in front of the net and putting it past Long.

Weiss picked up his first multi-point game of his career, while Mironov, Moran and Olidis all chipped in two points for the Purps. Sophomore netminder Chris Noonan (Portage, Mich.) made 36 saves in the victory.

The Purple Eagles return to Dwyer Arena to begin a four-game homestand on Friday, Jan. 8, when they take on ECAC opponent St. Lawrence at 7 p.m.