Results

NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – The Niagara men’s hockey team (6-8-7; 5-3-5 AHA) had a solid effort from both ends of the ice as five different Purple Eagles scored en route to a dominating 5-1 victory over the Army Black Knights (2-12-6; 1-10-4 AHA) Friday evening at Dwyer Arena.

Chris Lochner, Sam Alfieri, Mike Benedict  and C.J. Chartrain each netted a goal while Marc Zanette contributed a goal and an assist. 

"We had all four lines going tonight,"  head coach David Burkholder said.  "I was really happy with the way we played, especially with the Benedict, Matthews and Maclean line.  They sparked us in the first period.  I don't think they lost a shift.  I think they showed the way with nothing fancy and getting pucks deep.  From there I think this lineup is pretty balanced the way the lines were set up." 

Goaltender Chris Noonan was stellar between the pipes, pushing aside 38 Black Knights shots, including 17 in the final period for his third win of the season. 

"He [Noonan] has earned it," added Burkholder.  "He's playing like a senior.  He has been a calming force back there, very steady and when you do that you have to play him.  I think tonight he made some huge saves in the second period when it was 3-1." 

Alfieri and Chartrain tallied their third goals of the season in the opening period, giving the Purple Eagles a 2-0 lead heading into the second frame.  Alfieri started the scoring at the 14:54 mark off a tic-tac-toe play with forward Scott Arnold.  With one minute left in the period, Chartrain made it a two-goal game after burying a slap shot at the top of the slot, past Black Knight goalie Ryan Leets off a pass from Ryan Murphy. 

Niagara continued their offensive prowl less than four minutes into the second period.  Senior forward Clark MacLean found a trailing Patrick Borer who dished it in front of the net before it was tipped in by Benedict for his second of the season. 

The Black Knights would tally their first and only goal of the game midway through the second period as senior defender Marcel Alvarez netted his second goal off assists from Danny Colvin and Mike Hull.  The period would end with Niagara and Army tied at 22 shots apiece. 

The Purple Eagles would solidify the win with two goals in the final period to make it 5-1.  Lochner found the back of the net on the powerplay less than a minute in off feeds from Zanette and Iuorio.  Zanette added the fifth and final goal of the game at the 10:41 mark.  A high wrist from Borer at the top of the blue line was tipped in perfectly by Zanette under the pads of Leets. 

Giancarlo Iuorio and Borer would each finish the game with two assists.  
 
The Purple Eagles and the Black Knights meet again tomorrow night at Dwyer Arena with a 7 p.m. puck drop.