Niagara University, N.Y.—The Niagara Hockey team hosted Colgate to open the final series of 2022, Niagara took the first half of the weekend series with a 3-2 win.
Game Recap
First Period

• The two teams opened the game with a lot of face paced play with neither team generating much offense. Just over eight minutes into the period the shots were 5-2 Niagara.
• At the 13:29 mark of the period, the Purple Eagles got on the board. The duo of Ryan Cox and Shane Ott won the puck in the corner and after a scrum the puck found Lars Rodne's stick at the top of the faceoff circle. Rodne flung it towards the net and it found the back of the net.
• Less than three minutes after the Purple Eagles took the lead, Niagara went to the penalty kill. 37 seconds into their power play, the Raiders took a slashing penalty and the teams played four on four.
• With each team down a man, Colgate tied the game at one as a defensemen snuck down from the point and ripped a shot into the back of the net.
• After the opening period, the teams were tied at one while Niagara outshot Colgate 10-4.

Second Period

• Just like the opening period, the two teams played a back and forth period with each teams having scoring chances.
• Six and a half minutes into the period, Colgate took their first lead of the game as they scored on an odd-man rush.
• At the 12:00 mark Niagara responded with a goal of their own. David Posma had the puck deep in the zone and fed it to his defense partner. Lucas Bahn took a shot from the slot and Albin Nilsson tipped it past the goalie for his third goal of the season.
• Neither team scored in the final eight minutes of the period and the two teams went to the locker room tied at two.
• In the second period, shots were 13-13 in the second period while neither team had a power play chance in the period.

Third Period

• As the third period progressed the scoring chances for each team also increased.
• At the 9:24 mark of the period, the Purple Eagles appeared to have taken the lead as Nilsson deked the goalie. However, after a Colgate challenge the officials deemed the Purple Eagles were offsides.
• Despite the setback, Niagara took their lead just over two minutes later at the 12:32 mark. Ott took a long stretch pass from Max Ruoho. Ott made no mistake as he skated up the left wing and fired a wicked wrister into the back of the net.
• With the goalie pulled in the last minutes the Purple Eagles blocked multiple shots to secure the win over the Raiders.
• Colgate outshot the Purple Eagles in the third 7-6 as Chad Veltri finished with 22 saves.

Niagara Notes

• Niagara is 3-0-0 this season in non-conference play after they opened their season with a sweep of Omaha of the NCHC.
• The Purple Eagles blocked just 10 shots in the contest which is the second least amount all season. Josef Mysak, Bahn, and Noah Carlin all blocked two shots.
• Colgate registered just 24 shots on goal, Niagara has allowed less than 25 shots on three occasions this season, the Purple Eagles at 2-1.
• In his first official collegiate game, Ruoho registered his first career point with an assist on the game winning goal. He becomes the sixth Purple Eagle to record their first career point this season.

Up Next

• Niagara and Colgate close out the series tomorrow at 3:30 at Dwyer Arena, Niagara then goes on six game road trip to close out 2022.