Niagara University, N.Y.—The Niagara hockey team opened its home and home series against Robert Morris on Friday night with a convincing 6-2 win over the Colonials.
First Period
The Purple Eagles controlled play to open the game as they outshot the Colonials 22-5 in the opening 20 minutes.
Niagara struck first late in the period with just 1:04 left in the first. The Purple Eagles had control in the Robert Morris zone and Jay Ahearn passed the puck to Shane Ott in the slot, Ott could not get a handle of the puck and directed it to Noah Carlin who was sneaking down the left side. Carlin picked up the puck and slid it past the netminder for his second goal of the season. For Ahearn it was his fourth assist while Ott picked up his second of the season.
The Purple Eagles went to locker room up one and after allowing just seven shot attempts in the period.
Second Period
At the 6:09 mark of the second period the Purple Eagles extended their lead as Drew Vieten scored his first collegiate goal while also scoring Niagara's first shorthanded goal of the season. Connor Mylymok broke up a pass in the Niagara zone and the puck fluttered to the Robert Morris zone. The RMU goalie came out of the crease to play the puck and Vieten intercepted the pass and fired it into the open net to give Niagara a 2-0 lead.
RMU responded with a shorthanded goal of their own at the 10:11 mark and then tied the game at the 13:29 mark.
With the game tied at two and time in the second period expiring the Purple Eagles looked to take a lead heading to the third. With just over three minutes remaining in the period, the Purple Eagles broke the puck out of their zone. Alex Murray rifled a stretch pass to Luke Mylymok who was at the red line. L. Mylymok skated forward and slid the puck to Tyler Wallace who deked a Robert Morris defender between their legs to go in one on one with the goalie. Wallace went to his backhand and roofed it into the top of the net for his first collegiate goal. He gave Niagara a 3-2 lead heading into the third period.
Niagara was outshooting RMU 30-21 after 40 minutes of play.
Third Period
Just 12 seconds into the third period, the Purple Eagles once again doubled their lead as Carter Randklev scored his fourth goal of the season. Niagara dumped the puck around the wall and Olivier Gauthier won a battle in the corner. The puck bounced to the slot and Randklev blasted a one-timer past the Colonial netminder for the fourth Purple Eagle goal.
Just over three minutes later at the 3:37 mark, Niagara scored again to make it 5-2. The trio of Randklev, Gauthier, and Glebs Prohorenkovs went to work behind the net. Gauthier won a battle behind the net and fed the puck to Randklev on the left post, Randklev found Prohorenkovs on the right post and he made no mistake and finished for his second goal of the season.
Niagara wasn't done in the third period as less than two minutes later at the 5:27 mark Johnny Wescoe got in on the action. Wallace and Ahearn forced a turnover on the forecheck and Wallace collected a rebound and found Wescoe streaking towards the net and passed the puck to him. Wescoe buried it into the empty net for his first collegiate goal.
Niagara closed out the period with a 12-3 shot advantage along with a 6-2 win to open the weekend.
Niagara Notes
· Prior to the game, Niagara honored Bob Dwyer who is being inducted into the Niagara Hall of Fame on Saturday, Nov. 18.
· Niagara set a new season high with six goals in the game with six different goal scorers.
· It is the first time since Oct. 12, 2013 that Niagara had six different players score a goal in a game. Niagara defeated Canisius 6-4 at Dwyer Arena as Kevin Ryan, Chris Lochner, Mike Conderman, TJ Sarcona, Matt Dineen, and Ryan Rashid all scored once against the Griffs.
· The Purple Eagles now hold a 36-29-10 record against RMU all-time.
· 11 Purple Eagles tallied a point while Murray, Wallace, Gauthier, Randklev, and Ahearn all tallied two points.
· Jarrett Fiske made 22 saves in net and picked up his second win as a Purple Eagle.
· Niagara had had 11 shots on the power play while limiting RMU to just four on their three power plays.
· Niagara had 42 shots on goal which is a new season high, it is their most shots since having 43 on Oct. 29, 2022 in a 3-2 win over Mercyhurst.
· The Purple Eagles allowed just 24 shots, they have limited their opponents to less than 25 shots in six of their 10 games this season.
· Randklev and Ahearn lead the team with nine points this season, both have four goals and five assists.
· Wescoe, Vieten, and Wallace all scored their first collegiate goals.
· Wescoe, Vieten, Jonathan Ziske, and Max Ruoho all made their season debuts on Friday night.
Up Next
The Purple Eagles look for their first weekend sweep as they hit the road for the back half of the home and home series with Robert Morris. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 PM at Clearview Arena in Moon Township, Pa. on Saturday.
Stay connected with Niagara Hockey on X (formally Twitter) and Instagram. Follow Niagara Athletics all year long on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and purpleeagles.com.
