UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Taking on the No. 8 Nittany Lions at Penn State, the Niagara men's hockey team came within a goal of a stunning result. Freshman goaltender Chad Veltri stood tall in the crease, making 33 saves in a valiant effort. The skaters in front of Veltri aided him by combining to block 16 shots.

Game Recap

• After the Nittany Lions notched the first goal less than five minutes in, Luke Edgerton pulled Niagara level just a few minutes later. The sophomore forward won a duel in the neutral zone and out-paced the Penn State defense before slotting a top-shelf tally.
• With less than two minutes to play in the first period, Niagara whacked away at the bouncing puck right in front of the Penn State net, but saw it covered up before they could capitalize. On the ensuing faceoff win by Edgerton, Justin Kendall smoked a quick shot right on target, forcing a quick cover-up and another draw.
• With eight minutes gone in the second and after Penn State tallied on the power play to go ahead, 2-1, Niagara nearly knotted the score yet again when a cross-crease pass squeaked just out of reach of Kendall's blade.
• On the ensuing counter rush from the Nittany Lions, Chad Veltri pushed across the goal mouth to stuff Max Sauve at the doorstep.
• An inspired toe-save from Veltri 8:10 into the second stoned Sauve once again from mere inches away and kept the game at a one-goal spread.
• Ryan Naumovski and Jack Billings pressured the Nittany Lions back end and started Niagara's best offensive onslaught of the night, to that point. After being outshot, 8-3, in the first 12 minutes of the middle frame, the Purple Eagles forced six saves from Peyton Jones as they produced 13 consecutive chances in fewer than four minutes.
• As the clock ticked towards the 8:00 mark of the third, Eric Cooley rifled a long shot on net but saw it saved. The rebound landed right on a streaking Kendall's stick, but the second chance opportunity was scuttled wide of the net. Niagara maintained possession as Jared Brandt, Dylan Mills, and Chris Harpur each generated shots of their own, but to no avail.
• With 4:48 to play in regulation, Penn State opened up a two-goal lead after fighting off sustained pressure from the Niagara attack. 24 seconds later, Ryan Naumovski slotted the first goal of his college career to pull the margin back to one goal.

 
Up Next

• These same two teams will be in action again tomorrow evening to close out the weekend series. Puck drop from Pegula Ice Arena is set for 6 p.m.

 
 
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