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Niagara University Athletics

Stanley
4
Niagara NIA 6-13-2, 5-6-2
5
Winner Air Force AF 6-11-2, 4-7-2
Niagara NIA
6-13-2, 5-6-2
4
Final
5
Air Force AF
6-11-2, 4-7-2
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 F
Niagara NIA 1 2 1 4
Air Force AF 4 1 0 5

Game Recap: Men's Ice Hockey |

Niagara's Comeback Effort Falls Short Friday Night against Air Force

USAF ACADEMY, CO – The Purple Eagle (6-13-2, 5-6-2-2 AHA) comeback effort fell just short Friday night against Air Force (6-11-2, 4-7-2-2 AHA) as the Falcons held on to win by the final score of 5-4, in Atlantic Hockey action from Cadet Ice Arena. 

Ryan Cox, Walker Sommer, Brandon Stanley, and Jason Pineo each found the back of the net in the loss, and Michael Corson stopped 37 of the 40 shots he faced. 

GAME RECAP
First Period
• Air Force scored twice in the opening three minutes of action to take a 2-0 lead over the Purple Eagles. 
• Corson entered the game in relief of Jake Sibell following Air Force's second goal. 
• After the Falcons went up 3-0, Ryan Cox put Niagara on the board with a power play goal from the slot. Lars Rodne and Zac Hermmann were credited with the assists. 
• Niagara was 1-for-2 on the power play in the period and 1-for-1 on the penalty kill.
• The Purple Eagles took 11 shots and won eight faceoffs in the opening period. 

Second Period
• Corson stopped the first seven shots he saw in the second period before Niagara went on the power play at the 7:30 mark, its third of the game. 
• During that power play, Walker Sommer scored to make it a 4-2 game. The former Air Force Falcon rifled the shot by the opposing goalie from above the right-side faceoff circle. 
• Air Force would increase its lead back to three goals, 5-2, with 6:26 remaining in the second. 
• Less than a minute later, Brandon Stanley scored his second goal of the season on a rebound, pulling Niagara within two, 5-3. Cox and Jack Zielinski got the assists for Niagara. 
• Corson stopped 14 of 15 shots he faced in the period to help keep Niagara within striking distance. 

Third Period
• Air Force would be charged with a five-minute penalty early at the 15:01 mark in the third, giving Niagara its fourth power play opportunity of the contest.
• The Purple Eagles would again find themselves on the power play with 7:16 remaining in the contest after the Falcons were called for tripping. 
• With 5:45 remaining in the contest, Jason Pineo found the back of the net to pull Niagara within one, 5-4. 
• The Purple Eagles would pull Corson with two minutes remaining in an effort to force overtime but could not even the score with the extra attacker.

Niagara Notes
• Corson, who came in during the first period for Niagara, appeared in his first game since Jan. 10, 2021, against Robert Morris.
• Cox now leads Niagara with seven goals and is third with 12 points. 
• Herrmann finished with two assists, moving his season total to seven.   
• Walker Sommer and Brandon Stanley have each scored two goals in the last three games.
• NU has scored two or more power play goals on three different occasions this season. Cox leads the team with four power play goals.
• Corson's 37 saves are the second-most by a Purple Eagle netminder this season.

Up Next
• The Purple and White will wrap up its season series with the Falcons Saturday night from the Cadet Ice Center. Puck drop between Niagara and Air Force is scheduled for 9:00 p.m. (EST). 
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