Box Score

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Air Force built a 3-0 lead on its way to a 6-1 win over the No. 13 Niagara Purple Eagles Saturday evening in Atlantic Hockey action at the Cadet Ice Arena to sweep the weekend series.  

Patrick Divjak was the lone Purple Eagle to get on the score board as Niagara wrapped up the regular season with a 21-8-5 overall record, and a 20-5-2 AHA mark. 

The Falcons (17-11-7; 15-7-5 AHA) peppered starting NU goaltender Cody Campbell with 15 shots in the opening 20 minutes, while limiting the Purps to just five looks on net.  Niagara ran into some penalty trouble, finding itself in the box three times which led to the first Air Force goal with 2:48 on the clock.   With 56 remaining on the Falcons’ third man-advantage, Chad Demers rang a shot off the post that dropped behind Campbell for the easy tap in by John Kruse.

Twelve seconds later the Falcons extended their lead to two off a Ben Persian slap shot from the top of the slot. 

Niagara fell into a 3-0 hole 3:40 into the second frame off the stick of Kyle De Laurell.  The senior picked up a rebound off his own shot, and backhanded his 18^th goal of the year over the Campbell stick side.

The Purple Eagles were finally able to breakthrough on the scoreboard as Divjak netted his seventh goal of the season close to the midway point of the contest.  The left winger chopped the puck towards net right off the face off and saw it beat Air Force goalie Jason Torf with 11:36 on the clock. 

The deficit was stretched to three goals again though off a score from Chad Demers, sending the teams into the second break with AF up 4-1. 

Adam McKenzie added a power play goal 42 seconds into the final frame, and Ben Persian netted the Falcon's sixth goal to hand the Purps their first back-to-back loss of the season. 

With his third start of the season, Campbell ended the contest with 39 saves.   

Niagara will enjoy a weekend bye in the opening round of the Atlantic Hockey playoffs before hosting a best-of-three quarterfinal series from March 15-17.

To purchase tickets, contact the Niagara Ticket Office (located inside Dwyer Arena) at 716-286-TIXX, visit www.PurpleEagles.com/Tickets or emailing Tickets@PurpleEagles.com to reserve your seats today!