Box Score

NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. - Despite coming back from three goals down, the Niagara men's hockey team (2-4-2, 1-2-1 AHA) would ultimately fall to the Holy Cross Crusaders (3-3-0, 2-2-0 AHA), 4-3, on Saturday evening at Dwyer Arena.  

The Crusader's stymied a Niagara comeback when forward Rob Linsmayer netted his second of the game to make it 4-3 after the Purple Eagles scored three unanswered to even out the score in the third period.  With under six minutes to go in the game, Brandon Nunn skated around the Niagara net and fed Linsmayer at the top of the crease, who put it behind the outstretched Colby Drost.  

"It's a dangerous way to go about it," said head coach David Burkholder.  "We've been pretty good at it all year, but this time it came back and it hurts.  We fight back like that, but we broke down in front of the net and they get the winner.  We need to be ready 10 days from now when we tee-up against cross-city rivals."  

The Crusader's powerplay unit played a pivotal part in the win, as Holy Cross capitalized on three power-play goals.  

"We're just not paying the price man down," said Burkholder.  "Until we sort that out, it is what it is.  We are where we are because of our penalty kill."  

The Crusaders netted the first goal of the game 3:13 into the second period on the man advantage.  With eight seconds left on the power play, Captain Mike Daly saw his slapshot from the blueline hit the post, the puck dropping behind Drost for the easy tap in by Linsmayer.  

Niagara was immediately called for their second penalty of the game, putting freshman forward Mike Benedict in the box for boarding.  Just fifteen seconds later, senior Luke Miller one timed a feed from Mike Daly that streaked past the stick side of Drost, making it a two-goal game.  Niagara saw their deficit deepen as Kyle Atkins netted a power-play goal off a rebound at the 5:08 mark.  

The Purple Eagles ended the period with a goal of their own, making it a 3-1 game going into the final stanza.  Junior defender Dan Weiss tossed a high wrister towards the net that went over the shoulder of Tysowsky for his first career goal.  Niagara outshot Holy Cross 16-15.  

Niagara would make it a one goal game 6:23 into the final period of play.  A face off win by Sam Alfieri slid straight to Scott Arnold who ripped a quick one timer past Tysowsky for his fourth tally of the year.  Just over a minute later, the Purple Eagles would find the net on the man advantage to tie the game at three apiece.  Junior defender C.J. Chartrain hit junior Giancarlo Iuorio with a hard cross ice pass.  Iuorio roofed the puck for his second goal of the season.  
 
Drost made 35 stops during his second collegiate start.  

Niagara is back on the ice on Tuesday, Nov. 15 when its host crosstown rivals Canisius in its final home date of the 2011 calendar year.