NIAGARA UNIV, N.Y. – A gargantuan third period effort from the Purple Eagles wasn't enough as they fell 3-1 in the Halloween matchup against AIC.
 
Albin Karlsson scored at the 5:52 mark of the third to put Niagara (0-7-0; 0-3-0 AHA) on the board and cut the deficit to two goals. The freshman took a breakout pass off of the left wing boards to go in one-on-one and beat the Yellow Jacket goaltender on the far side for his first NCAA goal. The Purple and White outshot AIC (1-4-1; 1-3-1 AHA) 24-4 through the final 20 minutes, but couldn't climb any closer and ultimately fell 3-1.
 
"If we can play like we did in the third for a complete 60 minutes, we're going to be a very good team," head coach Dave Burkholder said. "Obviously we're looking to post a win here and if anything could go wrong, it would be that they show up with a hot goalie. We threw everything at him and couldn't buy one."
 
After being outshot and finding themselves down 2-0 after the first period, Niagara went on to outshoot AIC by a combined 37-11 through the final 40 minutes. Alex Murray posted 42 total saves for the win.
 
"I really thought that if we got one, we'd get a few," Burkholder said. "That didn't happen so we just have to get back at it. There are a lot of guys who played hard and a lot of guys that didn't contribute, so we just keep tinkering and turn this thing around."
 
Karlsson, Chris Lochner, and Matt Chartrain led the team with five shots on goal apiece. In all, 17-of-18 skaters had at least one look on the net. Jackson Teichroeb made his first start in goal for the season after the sophomore suffered a hamstring injury back in September. He made 18 saves on 21 shots in his season debut.
 
"We're happy to have him back," Burkholder said of the goaltender. "He has worked hard with Scott [Mastrobattista] to get back. I thought he looked calm and cool. They had a couple rush goals that I don't think he can be faulted for and he handed the puck well and got us some whistles. It was a good game for him."
 
The third and final AIC goal came on a rebound attempt. Teichroeb made the initial save before Andrew Debrincat crashed the net and scored on the rebound.
 
These two teams are back on the ice tomorrow for a 4:00 p.m. start at Dwyer Arena.