Rochester, NY- The Niagara hockey team traveled down to Rochester to play game one of the Atlantic Hockey Semifinals, they fell 4-1 to the 19th ranked Tigers.
First Period
The lone goal of the first frame of play was scored by RIT at the 14:54 mark.
Despite giving up the first goal of the period the Purple Eagles registered 12 shots compared to the Tigers six. Seven different Purple Eagles found their way to recording a shot. Four players had multiple shots on goal leading the way for the Purple Eagles was Lars Rodne who registered three.
Niagara recorded seven blocked shots, including two coming from Noah Carlin and Glebs Prohorenkovs; Lars Rodne, Ethan Lund, and Josef Mysak all recorded one.
Second Period
Niagara found themselves in a two-goal deficit at the 6:49 mark in the second period.
With the Purple Eagles down a pair, they managed to win the faceoff battle winning 17 draws compared to RIT's 11. All four of Niagara's centers won at least three faceoffs, Prohorenkovs led the way with six followed by Jaedon Leslie and Tyler Wallace, rounding out the Purple Eagles was Drew Vieten who registered three.
Niagara registered seven more blocked shots in the second frame with two coming from Carlin.
Third Period
RIT struck again at the 13:53 mark in the third to put their lead up to three.
Niagara had the extra attacker on the ice while the captain Jay Ahearn found the back of the net at the 16:16 mark of the third. Connor Mylymok was at the point then connected with Wallace who was at the half wall when he found Prohorenkovs in the slot who then had a slap pass to the streaking Ahearn who was all alone at the far back post made no mistake and put it away with the backhand. Ahearn recorded his 10th goal of the season which is third on the team. Wallace recorded his 17th assist of the campaign who currently second on the team in assists. Prohorenkovs picked up his 12th assist of the season on the captain's goal at the 16:16 mark.
Despite dominating the final frame, the Purple Eagles could not complete the comeback with the goalie pulled as RIT struck again with seven seconds left in the final frame.
Niagara outshot RIT 18-4 in the final 20 minutes of the game. Carlin and Shane Ott led the team in the final frame with three shots, followed by Wallace, Luke Mylymok, and Vieten who all registered two.
Niagara Notes
·      Niagara is now 25-21-17 all-time against RIT.
·      Wallace is now on a four-game point streak that dates back to Mar. 2 against Army. He now has six points during his hot streak.
·      Ahearn is on a three-game point streak that dates to Mar. 8 against Sacred Heart in the semi-final round. Ahearn has five points during his streak.
·      Prohorenkovs is riding a five-game point streak that dates to Feb. 24 against Mercyhurst to close out the regular season. During the five games, he has seven points.
·      Prohorenkovs has seven points in six career games played against RIT.
·      Niagara won the faceoff battle going 42-37, Prohorenkovs had the team-high 18 faceoff wins while Wallace recorded 10 wins.
·      The Purple and White outshot the Tigers 39-24, L. Mylymok and Ahearn led the team with eight shots on goal, and 18 different Purple Eagles recorded a shot on goal.
Up Next
Niagara is back in action back in Rochester for game two of the Atlantic Hockey Semifinals game with puck drop scheduled for 7 PM.
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