Fairfield, CT—The Niagara hockey team picked up its first win of the season as they defeated Sacred Heart in overtime on Friday night.
First Period
Sacred Heart struck first just 5:15 into the opening period to take an early 1-0 lead.
Less than two minutes later at the 6:49 mark of the period, Ethan Lund took a breakout pass from Tyler Wallace on the wall near center ice. The defensemen drove to the outside and beat the Pioneer defensemen. Lund slid the puck to the front of the net, Christian Gorscak cut to the front and one touch deflected the puck off the post into the net for his first goal of the season. Lund and Wallace each picked up their first collegiate point on the play.
Neither team scored in the remainder of the first period as Niagara outshot the Pios 12-7. The Purple Eagles also won 12 of 20 draws in the opening 20.
Second Period
After a back and forth opening 10 minutes of the second period, the Pioneers took the one goal lead back again at the 13:36 mark of the period.
Niagara once again responded just over two minutes later. At the 15:57 mark of the period, Lars Rodne took a pass from Josef Mysak with speed, Rodne skated down the left side and jumped around the defensemen and put the puck through the defensemen's legs. He found defensemen Alex Murray driving to the net and threw a saucer pass to Murray who finished for his first goal as a Purple Eagle. It was Rodne's second assist and third point of the season, Mysak picked up his third assist of the season.
The tie was short lived as the Pioneers took a 3-2 lead on the power play at the 18:00 mark of the period.
Niagara once again dominated in the faceoff circle as they went 18-13 on draws.
Third Period
Coming out of the locker room in the third period, the Purple Eagles didn't waste much time as they tied the game just 28 seconds into the third period. Jaedon Leslie forced a turnover in the neutral zone and the puck was picked up by Luke Mylymok. Mylymok took a shot that was blocked by a Sacred Heart defensemen, Leslie found the loose puck and released a wrister that went over the goalies right pad to tie the game at three.
Niagara generated pressure at the end of regulation but could not find the back of the net. However, with .9 seconds left in regulation, Sacred Heart took a cross checking penalty that gave Niagara a power play as the game headed to overtime.
Niagara won 12 of 19 faceoffs in the third period.
Overtime
The Purple Eagles started the overtime period with nearly a full two-minute power play. Despite losing the opening faceoff, the Purple Eagles controlled the puck for the majority of the OT session. At the 1:43 mark of the frame, Glebs Prohorenkovs was denied on the doorstep, the rebound found the stick of Jay Ahearn who found a hole in the goalie and netted his second goal of the season to secure the win for the Purple Eagles. Prohorenkovs picked up his first point of the season while Carter Randklev notched his first assist of the season.
Niagara Notes
· It is the first AHA overtime win for Niagara since Jan. 7, 2022 when Walker Sommer scored an overtime winner at Dwyer Arena against Sacred Heart. It is the first road overtime AHA regular season win since Nov. 8, 2014 for the Purple Eagles.
· Lund, Wallace, Murray, Leslie, and L. Mylymok all picked up their first points as a Purple Eagle. It was Murray's first collegiate goal.
· Ryan Ouellette picked up hist first win of the season as he made 21 saves in the win. It was his 18th collegiate win. He has a .915 save percentage this season and a 2.62 goals against average in his second season as a Purple Eagle.
· Niagara blocked 17 shots on the night with Murray blocking a team high four shots. Lane Brockhoff, Mysak, and Lund each blocked two shots.
· The Purple Eagles went 42-29 in the faceoff circle with Prohorenkovs and Leslie each going 15-8 for a 65.2 winning percentage.
· Niagara went 2-3 on the power play with five shots.
· In 38 games against Sacred Heart the Purple Eagles are 20-16-2 all-time.
· Niagara is 3-1-0 in Martire Family Arena since its opening in Jan. 2022.
Up Next
Niagara and Sacred Heart close out the weekend series on Saturday night with faceoff scheduled for 6 PM.
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