HAMILTON, N.Y. – The Niagara Purple Eagles hockey team came out flying in Saturday night's matchup at Colgate, the 2017-18 season opener and the first game under head coach Jason Lammers. Derian Plouffe tallied a power-play goal in the second period to make it a 1-1 contest, but Colgate pulled away in the second half of the game on the way to a 5-1 decision at Class of 1965 Arena.
 
Game Summary

• Final Score: Colgate 5, Niagara 1
• Niagara Goals: Derian Plouffe
• Niagara Assists: Johnny Curran, Noah Delmas
• In Goal: Brian Wilson (0-1-0) – 4 GA, 28 SV
• Special Teams: Niagara – 1-5 (7 SOG); Colgate – 0-6 (8 SOG)
• Records: Niagara – 0-1-0; Colgate – 1-0-0
• Location: Class of 1965 Arena – Hamilton, N.Y.
• Attendance: 1,481

 
Game Recap

• The Purple Eagles dominated the possession from the opening faceoff. Niagara took a 6-0 lead in shots on goal through the first six minutes of the game but was unable to put one past Colgate netminder Colton Point.
• At the 8:18 mark of the first, Colgate's first shot on goal found the back of the net as Tyler Jeanson broke in down the left wing and buried a low shot to open the scoring.
• Niagara goaltender Brian Wilson held strong after the goal, making 12 straight saves to close out the first period and keep the Purple Eagles within one.
• After killing off a penalty early in the second period, Niagara capitalized with a power-play goal off of a two-man advantage. Johnny Curran fed Noah Delmas at the point, and after working along the blue line Delmas teed up a one-time chance for Derian Plouffe, whose shot found the top corner to tie it at 1-1.
• Colgate's offense took advantage to claim a 3-1 lead heading into the second intermission. Bobby McMann forced a loose puck in front of the Niagara goal just over Wilson's pad at the 12:37 mark of the second. Just 1:41 later, McMann found Jared Cockrell on the back door of the Niagara goal to make it 3-1.
• Both teams had 11 shots on goal in the third and final period, but it was the Raiders that tacked on two more goals for the 5-1 final.
• 7:53 into the third period, Colgate's Paul McAvoy beat a Niagara defender to a loose puck and lifted a backhand over Wilson to make it 4-1, and an empty-net tally from Cockrell pushed the lead to four.

 
 Coach's Corner

• Head coach Jason Lammers: "I was really impressed with the effort and the mentality. I thought we owned them in time of possession and matched them in shots. We gave them everything we could handle, but they were more opportunistic with their chances."

 
Inside the Numbers

• Derian Plouffe opened his senior season with his 21st career goal and sixth career power-play goal. Both of those marks lead the current Purple Eagles.
• Noah Delmas picked up his first assist of the year on Plouffe's goal. The sophomore defenseman led Niagara with 15 assists a year ago.
• The Purple Eagles held Colgate scoreless on six power-play chances in the road loss.
• Forwards Eric Cooley and Sam Rennaker led the way for Niagara with two blocked shots each as the team held a 10-9 advantage in that category.
• Colgate held narrow advantages over Niagara in shots on goal (33-32) and faceoff wins (39-35).

 
Up Next

• The Purple Eagles open up their home schedule next week during Niagara's Alumni Weekend as they play host to Robert Morris. The Purple Eagles and Colonials will face off at 7:05 p.m. from Dwyer Arena on Friday, Oct. 6.

 
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