MILFORD, Conn. – Both Dan Kolenda and Keegan Harper finished with a goal and an assist as the Purple Eagles earned a 2-2 tie against Sacred Heart at the Milford Ice Pavilion on Saturday Night.
 
With the Purple Eagles facing a 1-0 deficit, Kolenda tied the game in the second period with his fourth goal of the season. The junior took a pass from Harper, went in down the right wing, and powered a shot through the Pioneer's netminder five minutes into the period.
 
"As well as the Chris Lochner-Kolenda-Derian Plouffe line played all weekend, it looked like they would be rewarded in overtime with a good goal, but I can't say enough about Dan Kolenda's play this weekend," head coach Dave Burkholder said. "He worked hard and produced for us. If he can play like that the rest of the way, he's going to be an impact player in this league."
 
Harper tied the game as the power-play unit was able to break through for the second straight contest. The Pioneer penalty killers lost track of Harper as the defenseman slid down towards the face-off circle while Lochner took the puck from the right boards to the left face-off circle. Lochner found Harper with a drop pass and Harper beat the goaltender clean with just less than five minutes expired in the period. Kolenda collected the secondary assist on the play for his second point of the game.
 
Niagara almost won the game in overtime, but a deflection by Lochner was ruled on the ice to have been hit with a high stick. After a video review, the call stood and NU took a point with a 2-2 tie.

"Every point in Atlantic Hockey is tough, so we'll take this one and get ready for Air Force," said Burkholder.

Jackson Teichroeb made 39 saves through 65 minutes. The Niagara penalty kill went a perfect 6-for-6. 
 
The Purple Eagles had their chances throughout the first period, but it was the Pioneers that again opened the scoring as a shot took a strange hop off of Teichroeb's stick and found the top right corner of the net to give the hosts the 1-0 lead. NU had the majority of the quality scoring chances throughout the period, but another unfortunate bounce sent the Purple Eagles into the intermission down 2-1.
 
Conference play continues for the Purple and White next weekend when they head to Colorado Springs, Colorado for a pair of games against the Air Force Falcons.