Box Score

NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – Junior Marc Zanette capitalized on a shorthanded opportunity and goaltender Chris Noonan made 29 saves, helping the Niagara men’s hockey team (7-8-7; 6-4-5 AHA) secure a 3-0 victory over the Army Black Knights (2-13-6;1-11-4 AHA) Saturday evening at Dwyer Arena.    

A superb solo effort by Zanette on the penalty kill gave the Purple Eagles a 1-0 lead heading into the final period.  Zanette pressured the Army defense in front of the blue paint and came out with the puck, burying it over the shoulder of Army goalie Rob Tadazak for his eighth goal and third shorthanded tally of the season. 

"You couldn't write a better script," head coach David Burkholder said.  "Doing what we did on the road and then coming back, it's all for nothing if you don't get your home ice points.  We've been a good team on Dwyer ice and hopefully this will jump start us to the great second half that we were planning on." 

The shutout is Noonan's second of his career and first earned at Dwyer Arena.  The previous time the senior kept an opponent scoreless was in a 3-0 victory over cross-town rivals Canisius during the 2010-11 season.

"I think we have a lot of balance," Burkholder added.  "Chris Noonan played fabulous tonight.  The first period we were under attack and he made a lot of saves look easy and got us some whistles when we were in trouble.  He gave a chance to settle ourselves down and get our feet under us."
 
Sophomore Scott Arnold extended the lead to 2-0 when he tallied his ninth of the year less than five minutes into the third period off a Ryan Rashid feed.  His quick bullet from the top of the slot snuck underneath the pads of Tadazak. 

Sealing the deal for the Purple Eagles, senior Clark MacLean added a tally off an assist from Mike Benedict and Robert Martini late in the final period, to wrap up the scoring at 3-0. 

Zanette, Arnold, Benedict and MacLean each earned a goal and contributed a helper en route to the weekend sweep.

Niagara continues its four-game homestand next weekend as they face off against the American International Yellow Jackets starting on Friday, Jan. 20 and wrapping up the following day.  Both games are scheduled for a 7:05 p.m. start.