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Niagara University Athletics

Lomsnes
3
Robert Morris RMU 0-1-0, 0-1-0 AHC
4
Winner Niagara NIA 1-1-0, 1-0-0 AHC
Robert Morris RMU
0-1-0, 0-1-0 AHC
3
Final
4
Niagara NIA
1-1-0, 1-0-0 AHC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 OT 1 F
Robert Morris RMU 0 1 2 0 3
Niagara NIA 1 1 1 1 4

Game Recap: Men's Ice Hockey |

Niagara Knocks Off Robert Morris 4-3 In Overtime Thriller

NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – The Niagara Purple Eagles hockey team and the Robert Morris Colonials battled through more than 60 minutes in the first game of the 2017-18 season at Dwyer Arena. After Niagara took a 3-1 lead in the third period, Robert Morris clawed back to force overtime at 3-3. In the extra period, Tanner Lomsnes got to the front of the net and banked home a point shot from Noah Delmas to give the Purple Eagles the 4-3 win Friday night at Dwyer Arena.
 
Lomsnes and Nick Farmer both tallied two points (1+1) in the victory for the Purple Eagles, Niagara's first win in a home opener since 2007. Derian Plouffe scored his second power-play goal in as many games, and Keegan Harper rounded out the goal scoring with a third-period tally.
 
Game Summary  
Game Recap
  • The Purple Eagles gained a 5-on-3 power play one minute into the game after Robert Morris penalties to Alex Bontje and Robert Powers. After the first penalty expired, Derian Plouffe buried a cross-slot feed from Johnny Curran to open the scoring.
  • Robert Morris took control of the possession later in the first period, but Niagara weathered the storm and held the 1-0 lead through 20 minutes. Goaltender Guillaume Therien made nine saves in the opening stanza.
  • Just 1:53 into the second period, Niagara doubled its lead while shorthanded. Tanner Lomsnes fed Nick Farmer right in front of the Robert Morris goal, as Farmer tipped the pass to the top of the goal to complete the connection between the Niagara juniors.
  • Right after Farmer's goal, Therien came up with a huge point-blank breakaway stop against Robert Morris forward Brandon Watt. The Colonials did cut the lead in half before the second period came to a close with a 5-on-3 power-play goal from Brady Ferguson.
  • After a slow start to the third period, Niagara reestablished the two-goal lead at the 8:36 mark. Eric Cooley entered the Robert Morris zone and dropped a pass to Keegan Harper, whose low wrister beat Colonials goaltender Francis Marotte far to the left side.
  • The Colonials would come back, however, striking twice in the last 5:07 to force overtime. Another power-play goal by Ferguson was following in the closing 90 seconds by a short-side strike from Alex Tonge with the Robert Morris net empty.
  • In the overtime period, Farmer won an offensive zone faceoff back to Noah Delmas. Delmas got his shot through from the point, and the shot banked in off the body of Lomsnes in front of the net for the game-winning goal.
 
Coach's Corner
  • Head coach Jason Lammers: "Most importantly now, [our players] have something to believe in. They believe in themselves, they believe in each other, and it's fun to be a part of. We've been impressed as a staff with the character of the group. We have a bunch of great men and their intent is awesome. They've learned a lot that things are going to happen, but it's all about how you respond, and I think they proved that and taught that lesson to each other tonight."
 
Inside the Numbers
  • Jason Lammers picked up his first win as the head coach of the Purple Eagles in his first game at Dwyer Arena.
  • The win Friday marked Niagara's first victory in a home opener in 10 years. The Purple Eagles last won its home opener on Oct. 18, 2007, a 2-0 blanking of Bowling Green. Niagara had earned a tie in five home openers since that last win.
  • Niagara picked up its first win over Robert Morris since Feb. 27, 2015 to snap a seven-game winless streak against the Colonials.
  • Tanner Lomsnes picked up multiple points in one game for the third time in his Niagara career and first since December 2015. The overtime goal was also Lomsnes' first career game-winning goal.
  • Nick Farmer recorded his first multiple-point game since Nov. 20, 2015 when he tallied four assists in a 5-4 home overtime win over AIC.
  • Derian Plouffe has two power-play goals in two games to start the season, while Johnny Curran and Noah Delmas kick off the new year with assists in back-to-back games.
  • Guillaume Therien picked up his first win since Nov. 15, 2016, a 5-4 win over the Mercyhurst Lakers.
  • Niagara went 1-for-3 with the man advantage in the win and now sits at 2-for-8 (25 percent) to start the 2017-18 campaign.
  • Robert Morris held narrow advantages in shots on goal (34-29) and faceoff wins (44-39).
  • Farmer (18-for-36, .500) and Plouffe (14-for-27, .519) led Niagara in the faceoff dot.
  • Seniors Plouffe and Harper led the Purple Eagles with two blocked shots each.
 
Up Next
  • The Purple Eagles return to Dwyer Arena for a two-game home weekend in two weeks. Niagara hosts the RPI Engineers on Friday, Oct. 20 and the Union Dutchmen on Saturday, Oct. 21. Both games are slated for a 7:05 p.m. faceoff.
 
Stay connected with the Purple Eagles through social media. Follow Niagara Athletics on Twitter @NUPurpleEagles and for men's hockey updates, follow Niagara hockey on Twitter and Instagram. Check in with the Purple Eagles on Facebook.com/PurpleEagles and on Instagram @NUPurpleEagles.
 
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