ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The Niagara Purple Eagles hockey team opened its best-of-three Atlantic Hockey first-round series Friday night with a come-from-behind, 5-4 win over the RIT Tigers. In game two, however, RIT took a 3-0 lead after 20 minutes of play and did not relinquish a goal to the Purple Eagles.

Niagara was defeated by RIT, 5-0, Saturday night at the Gene Polisseni Center and now faces a deciding game three, with the winner advancing to the Atlantic Hockey Quarterfinals which start on Friday, March 10.
 
Game Summary

• Final Score: RIT 5, Niagara 0
• Niagara Goal Scorers: n/a
• Niagara Assists: n/a
• In Goal: Jackson Teichroeb (2-15-2) – 4 GA, 27 SV; Joe O'Brien – 1 GA, 7 SV
• Power Plays: Niagara – 0-for-8 (7 SOG); RIT – 1-for-6 (8 SOG)
• Records: Niagara – 4-29-3; RIT – 14-21-1
• Location: Gene Polisseni Center – Rochester, N.Y.
• Attendance: 2,027

 
Game Recap

• Niagara opened the second game of the best-of-three series with a pair of early power plays, giving the team a chance to get up early in the game.
• RIT was able to hold off the Niagara power-play unit and tacked on a shorthanded goal in the process to make it 1-0. Jackson Teichroeb mishandled the puck to the left side of the Niagara goal, and Myles Powell buried the loose puck for the game's first goal.
• The Tigers added two more goals before the first intermission. Ryan Kruper found space in the slot off a three-on-three rush and beat Teichroeb low past the right pad. With 23 seconds left until the intermission, just after Niagara killed a penalty to Christian Cakebread, RIT's Darren Brady sent a wrister past Teichroeb to make it 3-0.
• The Purple Eagles failed to get a goal on two more power-play chances in the second period, but generated five shots on goal with the man advantage.
• Teichroeb stopped all six RIT shots in the middle stanza, but Niagara was unable to find a shot to beat RIT goaltender Mike Rotolo.
• In the third period, Niagara killed off an early penalty to Sam Rennaker, but RIT maintained possession and found its fourth goal of the night after Danny Smith's wrister beat the glove of Teichroeb.
• Joe O'Brien played the final 10:02 in goal for Niagara, and the sophomore made seven saves, yielding a power-play goal to RIT's Matt Abt on a snap shot from the left faceoff circle.

 
Coach's Corner

• Head coach David Burkholder:  "We just didn't have much fire. The first goal was a killer, just a rough play by Teichroeb. They were just bigger, faster, and stronger tonight, so we have to regroup and be ready for tomorrow."

 
Up Next

• The Purple Eagles and Tigers will return to Gene Polisseni Center on Sunday, March 5 for a pivotal Game Three that will decide a series winner. Puck drop is set for 7:05 p.m.
• Jeremy White has the radio play-by-play on 1340 AM WLVL, and the game will be televised live in Buffalo on Time Warner Cable SportsChannel (Ch. 52 & 323).

 
Stay connected with the Purple Eagles through social media. Follow Niagara Athletics on Twitter @NUPurpleEagles and for hockey updates, follow @NiagaraUHockey. Check in with the Purple Eagles on Facebook.com/PurpleEagles and on Instagram @NUPurpleEagles.