NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – Jay Ahearn scored the lone goal in the shootout to give Niagara the bonus point in the standings in a 3-3 tie with Holy Cross in Atlantic Hockey action Friday night at Dwyer Arena.
 
How it Happens
The Purple Eagles (5-4-3, 4-2-2 AHA) erased a two-goal deficit with three straight tallies in the second period. Braden Doyle started the comeback with a power-play goal at 1:28, followed by Noah Hackett and Grayson Dietrich finding the net to give Niagara a 3-2 lead.
 
Holy Cross (4-7-1, 3-3-1) forced overtime when Timothy Heinke scored at 7:12 of the third period.
 
Pierce Charleson made 42 saves for Niagara, including four crucial stops in overtime. The Purple Eagles were outshot 45-38 but killed six of seven penalties.
 
Hackett led Niagara with a goal and an assist, while Tyler Wallace added two assists.
The Purple Eagles remain unbeaten in their last three games (1-0-2) and moved into third place in the Atlantic Hockey standings.
 
All three Niagara goals came in a span of 16:44 in the second period after Holy Cross had built a 2-0 first-period lead on goals from Devin Phillips and Liam McLinskey.
 
Niagara Notes
• Niagara moves to 13-22-5 all-time against Holy Cross.
• Friday's game marked the first time in four years that the Crusaders visited Dwyer Arena.
• Dietrich recorded his second goal of the season.
• Hackett last notched two points in a game on Nov. 25, 2024 against Robert Morris.
• Charleson recorded a season-high 42 saves in the contest, his sixth game this season with 30 or more saves.
• Niagara has scored a power play goal in seven games this season. Doyle's power play goal was the teams first since Oct. 30.
• The Purple and White finished with a season-high 19 blocks.
 
Up Next
Niagara and Holy Cross will conclude its two-game set on Saturday, Nov. 16 at 5 p.m. from Dwyer Arena.