GAME #22
SCORE	Niagara Purple Eagles 1, AIC Yellow Jackets 2
SCORES	Niagara: JW. Sommer (2nd, 17:50) AIC: E. Barriga (3rd, 11:22), J. Cole (3rd, 14:19)
GOALIES	Niagara: Chad Veltri (5-7-2) AIC: Stefano Durante (5-1-0)
RECORDS	Niagara Purple Eagles (7-12-3, 3-9-3 AHA) AIC Yellow Jackets (14-3-0, 11-1-0-1 AHA)
LOCATION	MassMutual Center | Springfield, Mass.

 
SPRINGFIELD, MASS. - Despite taking a 1-0 lead in the second period, the Niagara men's hockey program fell to top-ranked AIC, 2-1, in the Atlantic Hockey semifinals Friday afternoon.
 
First Period
• After 20-minutes of play, the score remained deadlocked at zero.
• Chad Veltri made 10 saves in the first period as AIC controlled the puck for most of the period.
• The Purple Eagles recorded five shots on goal in the opening period, compared to 10 for the Yellow Jackets.
 
Second Period
• AIC was awarded the first power play of the game when Niagara was called for interference. The Purple Eagles did kill the special team's chance to keep the game scoreless.
• Niagara got its extra-man opportunity during the midway point of the period but failed to break the 0-0 tie.
• Walker Sommer scored the game's opening goal to give Niagara a 1-0 lead. Sommer scored the goal off a rebound as his initial shot went off the goalie's blocker.
• The Purple and White finished the period with seven shots on goal.
 
Third Period
• Midway through the final stanza, AIC tied the game at 1-1 with a shot from the slot. 
• The Yellow Jackets took a 2-1 lead with 
• Niagara pulled Veltri with just over under three minutes remaining in regulation.
• The Purple Eagles finished the period with five shots on net compared to 13 for AIC.
 
Game Notes
• Veltri finished the game with 33 saves on 35 shots.
• Niagara finished the game with 21 blocked shots, the fourth-straight game with 20 or more blocked shots.
• Sommer's goal marked his eighth of the season and 18th of his career.
• Niagara falls to 1-4 in AHA semifinal games.
• AIC led in shots (67-34), shots on goal (35-18), and faceoff wins (27-24).
 
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