Box Score

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. - The Niagara men’s hockey team (3-5-4, 2-2-3 AHA) was unable to hold a 4-1 lead, surrendering three unanswered goals in the third period to come away with a 4-4 draw to the Sacred Heart Pioneers (1-12-1, 0-8-1 AHA) at the Webster Bank Arena Sunday evening.  

The Pioneers saved their best hockey for the final period, scoring three to comeback from a 4-1 deficit. The Pioneers first tally of the third came on a two man-advantage at the 4:50 mark when Matt Gingera made it a 4-2 game. The Pioneers made it closer at 4-3 midway through the period, when the rebound off a shot by Anthony Yelovich was knocked in by Ben Ketchum for his second of the game.

With under five minutes remaining, the Pioneers again struck, when Gingera snuck a bounding puck past Niagara netminder Colby Drost to send the game into overtime. Niagara would outshoot Sacred Heart 5-3 in the overtime session, but settled for the draw.

"Not a lot to like about tonight's effort," said head coach David Burkholder. "Only positive is that it's a point on the road, but we wanted it easy and they never quit. They didn't play the scoreboard and we did."

The first twenty minutes were dominated by the Purple Eagles, as they went up three goals and outshot the Pioneers 13-9.  Patrick Divjak was the first Purple Eagle to get on the board, tallying his second goal of the season 6:01 into the period during Niagara’s first man-advantage of the game.  

Marc Zanette gave Niagara a 2-0 lead shorthanded, as the Nobleton, Ont. native rushed into the offensive zone on a 2-on-1, holding it all the way before shooting one through Pioneers goalie Steven Legatto.  Isaac Kohls would make it a 3-0 game in an end-to-end rush in the final seconds of the first, sneaking one five-hole through Legatto.  

Ben Ketchum pulled the Pioneers within two 6:34 into the second stanza.  A clearing attempt by Niagara during a powerplay was stopped by Tye Lewis before he found Ketchum whose quick release snuck under Drost.  

Baco gave Niagara back its three-goal lead late in the period off a glove side wrister past goalie Andrew Bodnarchuck who relieved Legatto at the start of the second.  The goal, assisted by Doug Clifford and Tyler Matthews, was Baco’s first tally of the season.  

Kohls had a goal and an assist for Niagara, while Drost finished the game with 34 saves. Drost also picked up his second point of the game, assisting on Kohl's goal.

Niagara continues its 11-game road trip next weekend against the Bentley Falcons in a two-game series at the John A. Ryan Skating Arena.  The first game is Friday, Dec. 2 at 7:05 p.m. while the second game is set to begin at 7:05 p.m. the following day.