NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – Elation in the closing seconds of regulation gave way to disappointment in overtime for the Purple Eagles hockey team. Nick Farmer's goal with 39 seconds left in the third period got Niagara to overtime, but Army's Nick DeCenzo scored 2:07 into overtime, sending Niagara to a 3-2 loss Saturday night at Dwyer Arena.
 
Trailing 2-1 in the closing seconds, Larry Smith's point shot was deflected by Johnny Curran before Farmer poked the rebound in to force overtime. With the goal by DeCenzo giving Army the overtime win, Niagara fell to 1-4-3 in overtime games this season.
 
TJ Sarcona scored his fifth goal of the season in the first period for the Purple Eagles (3-20-3, 3-15-3 Atlantic Hockey), his third goal in as many games. Niko Kovachis picked up his second assist of the weekend and fifth of the season on Sarcona's goal, while Stanislav Dzakhov snapped a five-game scoring drought with a secondary assist on the play. Guillaume Therien got the start in net after making eight saves in relief Friday night, and he made 22 saves on 25 shots in Saturday's loss.
 
The game opened with 10 minutes of strong, back-and-forth action as both Therien and Army's Parker Gahagen got into a rhythm. It was the Black Knights (7-11-6, 5-9-6 Atlantic Hockey) who got on the board first, as Tyler Pham's shot deflected off a skate and Conor Andrle poked the rebound past a sprawling Therien for the 1-0 lead. Niagara responded off a rush 3:38 later. Stanislav Dzakhov fanned on a shot, but the puck was there for Niko Kovachis to get the shot on net. The puck went up in the air, and Sarcona managed to direct the rebound past Gahagen, tying the game at one after 20 minutes.
 
Neither team scored in the second period, as the goaltenders Therien and Gahagen stepped to the forefront. At the end of the second, it was Therien who made a beautiful save on Pham to keep the game tied. Andrle found Pham all alone on the back door with a wide-open net to shoot at, and Therien flared the glove to hold the score at 1-1.
 
Pham did get on the board with 8:43 to play in regulation, taking advantage of some space in the slot and ripping a shot over the shoulder of Therien. Niagara outshot Army 15-10 in the third period, and its last shot was the one that tied the game. Farmer tied up his man off an offensive-zone faceoff and Curran corralled the loose puck back to Smith. The puck eventually ended up on the stick of Farmer and Niagara tied the game with 39 seconds left in regulation.
 
The first shot on goal of the overtime period was the one that decided the game in Army's favor. After a rush attempt by Joe Kozlak was broken up, Trevor Fidler picked up a loose puck behind Niagara's net and found DeCenzo alone in front, and his shot along the ice beat Therien.
 
The Purple Eagles head back on the road next weekend to conclude their four-game season series with the AIC Yellow Jackets. Opening faceoff for the games on Friday, Feb. 5 and Saturday, Feb. 6 is set for 7:05 p.m., with both games live to air on 1340 AM WLVL and PurpleEagles.com/Watch.
 
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