MOON TOWNSHIP, PA. - Three unanswered goals by the Niagara men's hockey team (10-19-4, 5-10-2 CHA) helped the Purple Eagles down the host Robert Morris Colonials (10-17-5, 6-8-3 CHA) by a final of 3-1 at the RMU Island Sports Center. Niagara is now 3-0-3 at the RMU Island Ice Center in its last six games.

With 1:43 left in the game, senior blueliner Jim Burichin let a wrist shot go from the left point, which was deflected past the glove of Colonials netminder Brooks Ostergard by fellow senior Egor Mironov. Mironov's 12th career game-winning goal pushes him into second place all-time on Niagara's career game-winning goals list.

Pennsylvania native Jeff Hannan would ice the game with an empty net goal with 15 seconds remaining.

"We stuck with it," head coach Dave Burkholder said. "In the third period we had seniors who stepped up and made big plays when we needed it."

The Colonials struck first late in the opening frame, when a shot from the point by Ron Cramer beat sophomore netminder Chris Noonan low, stick side for the 1-0 lead. Noonan was sharp the rest of the first period, including a huge stop on a Robert Morris three-on-one that kept the Purps within one.

Niagara had several chances to light the lamp in the second period, including a man-advantage opportunity late in the period. Ostergard was up to the task in the middle stanza, stopping all 11 Niagara shots.

The Purple Eagles were able to tie it halfway through the third period, when senior blueliner Tyler Gotto notched his eighth goal of the season when his wrist shot beat Ostergard stick side. Senior Chris Moran tallied his 100th career assist on the Gotto goal, while taking over fourth place on Niagara's all-time points list (138 career points)from former teammate Ted Cook (2005-09) with his assist on Mironov's goal.

Niagara now trails Alabama-Huntsville by a point in the race for third place, with both teams finishing up the regular-season at home on Saturday. To earn the third seed for the CHA Tournament, Niagara must defeat Robert Morris on Saturday, while Alabama-Huntsville must lose.

The Purple Eagles wrap up the regular-season when they host the same Robert Morris Colonials on Senior Night, Saturday at 7 p.m. at Dwyer Arena .