TROY, N.Y. - The Niagara men's hockey team (0-2-2, 0-0-0 AHA) was able to score twice in the third period to force overtime, but the host RPI Engineers (3-1-2, 0-0-0 ECAC) scored early in overtime to clinch a 4-3 victory at the Houston Field House on Saturday night.

Four out of Niagara's last five games have entered overtime, dating back to the 2010 College Hockey America Championship game. Three of Niagara's games so far during the 2010-11 season have entered extra time.

With 6:43 left in regulation and Niagara down 3-1, sophomore C.J. Chartrain ripped a shot from the point, with the resulting rebound backhanded into the net by sophomore Marc Zanette for his first goal of the season on the man-advantage. Two minutes later, Niagara would tie the game at three on the man-advantage, when senior Paul Zanette tipped home a point shot from senior David Ross.  

RPI pushed the tempo of the game in overtime, before scoring the game-winning goal. Off of a faceoff to the left of freshman netminder Carsen Chubak, the puck was one back to the point, where Brock Higgs notched the game-winning goal.

"It was a really bad break in overtime with a bounce to an open guy to score through the back door," head Niagara men's hockey coach Dave Burkholder said. "We deserved better tonight. We overcame a two-goal deficit, which showed a lot of character."

Despite outshooting the Engineers by a 16-11 margin during the opening 20 minutes, RPI was first to dent the scoreboard. Chubak made the initial save on his glove side, but a second effort admist a scrum by Alex Angers-Goulet propelled the puck just past the goal line.  With 67 seconds left in the opening period, Josh Rabbani one-timed a puck past Chubak for a 2-0 RPI lead.

Chubak stood tall for the Purple Eagles in the second period, stopping all 17 Engineer shots. Niagara had a few solid opportunities to climb back into the game off of the stick of sophomore Giancarlo Iuorio, but RPI netminder Allen York was up to the task.

Niagara cut the RPI lead to 2-1 early in the third period, when senior David Ross gained the zone and found freshman Scott Arnold in the slot. Arnold fired a shot over the stick side of York for his second goal in as many games. A little over two minutes later, RPI would regain it's two-goal lead, when Chase Polacek would beat Chubak.

Chubak made 32 saves on the night for the Purple Eagles.

The Purps are back in action on Oct. 29, as they host their first-ever Atlantic Hockey Association conference game, against Mercyhurst at 7:05 pm.