NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y.— No. 20 Niagara hockey produced an amazing comeback from 3-0 down to defeat cross-town rival Canisius in front of a sellout crowd at Dwyer Arena on Saturday evening.

Niagara goaltender Adrian Ignagni relieved Jackson Teichroeb in the second period and backstopped the Purple Eagles to the 6-4 victory, behind a two-point night from Matt Dineen and the go-ahead goal by senior Ryan Rashid.  The Purple Eagles (1-2-0; 1-0-0 AHA) also got a two-point night from Hugo Turcotte in the team's first Atlantic Hockey matchup of the season.

"The Canisius-Niagara rivalry is the best kept secret in Western New York," head coach Dave Burkholder said.  "There can't be anyone leaving this building that doesn't want to come back and see both teams.  It was a great college game—hard fought, hard hitting and some pretty good goals on both sides."  

Special teams was the difference in the game as three power play goals and a pair of shorthanded tallies were netted between the two teams.  Canisius went 2-for-7 on the man-advantage while Niagara when 1-for-5. 

"That was a big test against an older team that has some swagger after experiencing a lot of success lately," added Burkholder.  "For us to hang in there was great.  Special teams and goaltending is a big part of hockey at this level.  Guys were selling out and Ignani closed the door for us.  Obviously two shorthanded goals is the difference in the game."  

Tied four goals apiece at the start of the third period after being down 3-0, Rashid put the Purple Eagle ahead 5-4 with Niagara's second shorthanded goal of the game.  The senior raced down the right wing, stalling a second before wristing a shot over the shoulder of Canisius goaltender Tony Capobianco.  Mike Conderman would add an empty netter in the final seconds of the contest to solidify the comeback for the Purple Eagles.

Despite coming out with the better opportunities to begin the game, Canisius (0-1-0; 0-1-0 AHA) capitalized on its chances to jump out to a three-goal lead midway through the first frame.  Niagara went on the first power play of the game, but it was the Griffs who struck as Tyler Wiseman roofed a shorthanded goal over Teichroeb.  Canisius would follow that with power play tallies from Taylor Law and Kyle Gibbons to dig Niagara into a three-goal hole despite being outshot by the Purps. 

Niagara finally got on the scoreboard with six minutes remaining in the first as Dineen pocketed his first career goal as the sophomore defender jumped on a puck sitting in the crease, banging it in to make it 3-1.  Canisius responded less than two minutes later however to regain the two-goal lead as Doug Beck got Canisius' final goal of the game from the top of the slot.  

After Beck's goal, the Purple and White buckled down defensively, and scored the next five goals en route to the comeback.  It once again began off the stick of Dineen as his shot from just inside the blue line was tipped in by TJ Sarcona to cut the Griff's lead in half headed into the second frame.  The goal was Sarcona's first as a Purple Eagle. 

Kevin Ryan continued to add onto scoreboard in the second period, this time on the power play, releasing a slapshot from the top of the left circle that went straight through the trafficked crease into the net.  Special teams continued to dominate as Niagara pocketed its own short-handed tally when Chris Lochner ripped a top shelf laser over the shoulder of Capobianco to tie the game at four heading into the second intermission. 

The game wrapped up with Niagara outshooting Canisius 43-27.  Teichbroeb made five saves, before Ignani stepped in with 18 stops. 

The Purple Eagles will back their bags and head out on the season's second longest road trip of the season, playing the next five games away from Dwyer.  The stretch begins next Saturday when the team travels to Moon Township, Pa. to face off against AHA opponent Robert Morris.  Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.