WORCESTER, Mass. – For the fourth straight game, Niko Kovachis got on the scoresheet for Niagara men's hockey as the Purple Eagles skated to an overtime draw with the Holy Cross Crusaders. Niagara (8-11-3, 7-6-3 AHA) got off to a slow start but blitzed the Crusaders (3-12-3, 3-8-2 AHA) for three goals in the first 10 minutes of the third before allowing a late equalizer.
 
Game Recap

• Ludwig Stenlund gave Niagara a great chance at evening the score at the midway portion of the second period. A bouncing puck found his stick in front of the Holy Cross net and he took some hacks at it before it was turned aside and sent back to the boards.
• Minutes later, Reed Robinson and Dylan Mills also found themselves with opportunities to crack the scoresheet for the Purple Eagles but misfired.
• After falling into a 2-0 hole, Niagara had another opportunity to break through when Nic Mucci was one of three Purple Eagles crashing the Crusader net. However, a quick pass across the paint slipped through his stick and trickled out the other side while the yawning net beckoned his shot.
• 57 seconds into the third period Kovachis slotted home his fifth goal of the season. Assisted by Justin Kendall and Eric Cooley, the goal pulled Niagara to a 2-1 score.
• Five minutes later, Kovachis located a puck carried through the zone by Kendall and fired it from the point. Robinson was camped in front of the net and changed its course, slipping it past the Holy Cross goaltender and in for a tying goal.
• Moments later, Chris Harpur kept the score even by making a huge defensive play on the fly, swatting the puck away from a Holy Cross forward on a partial breakaway and steering it clear of Brian Wilson's net.
• With 10:45 on the clock and Niagara down a man, Niagara took the lead, 3-2, on Stenlund's second shorthanded goal of the season.
• As the clock ticked down to 2:30, Wilson found himself staring down a 3-on-1 chance for the shorthanded Crusaders. Luke Edgerton stayed in the middle of their formation and artfully intercepted a drop pass before a shot could be taken.
• For the second consecutive game, Niagara was stung by a goal within the final two seconds of regulation, giving Holy Cross new life with 0.4 seconds remaining and sending the game to overtime.
• On the power play in overtime, Stenlund put a shot on net that was bobbled but covered before the Purple Eagles could cash in on a rebound.

 
Beyond The Boxscore

• Kovachis' tally extended a streak that was already a personal best. His five goals on the season match his total for his first three collegiate seasons and give him 10 as a Purple Eagle.
• Despite scoring three goals in the third that included a go-ahead strike, Niagara continued an unwanted trend by failing to win their first game of the season when trailing after 40 minutes. The Purple Eagles came into the weekend with an 0-11-0 mark when down after two periods.

 
Up Next

• The Crusaders and Purple Eagles will continue the series tomorrow with a 7 p.m. puck drop from the Hart Center.

 
 
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