SPRINGFIELD, MASS. - A strong first period led the Niagara men's hockey team (13-7-2, 10-5-0 AHA) to a 3-1 victory over the host American International Yellow Jackets (4-13-1, 4-10-1 AHA) on Saturday night at the Olympia Ice Center. Niagara's win on Saturday night cemented a 4-1-0 record on its season-long, five-game road trip.

"To play most of the game with a two-goal lead might not lead to the safest feeling, but the team was thorough with their decisions," Niagara head coach Dave Burkholder said. "It was nice to have the Haczyk, Zanette, Iuorio line to get us going."

Niagara jumped out to a 1-0 lead just 26 seconds into the game, when a rebound from senior Paul Zanette was dumped into the net by fellow senior Bryan Haczyk, pushing his consecutive games point streak to 18 games. Freshman netminder Cody Campbell kept the game scoreless with 11 saves, including a stop on a penalty shot near the end of the period.

Haczyk would give the Purps a 2-0 lead heading into the break, when his wrist shot from the slot beat Yellow Jackets netminder Ben Meisner for his 18th goal of the season. The Nutley, N.J. native has now scored eight goals in his last four games.

The senior Zanette would net his 18th goal of the season with 3:35 left in the third period, on a nice passing play by Haczyk and sophomore Giancarlo Iuorio. AIC dented the scoreboard with 51 seconds left, beating Campbell on a two-on-one while shorthanded.

Campbell made 30 saves in his second career win. The elder Zanette finished with a goal and two assists for Niagara, a team that is now 9-0-1 when leading after two periods this season.

"A defensive breakdown cost Cody a shutout, but I thought he played well," Burkholder said.

Niagara returns home for its next three games, starting on Friday, Jan. 21 against Sacred Heart.