NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. — Niagara hockey opened the regular season with a 5-2 victory over St. Lawrence at Dwyer Arena.
St. Lawrence got on the board first with a goal from Cayden Casey that beat Purple Eagles netminder Deivs Rolovs at the 4:56 mark of the first period.
Niagara had multiple chances in the first, but none of their eight shots were able to pass Saints goalkeeper Cameron Smith.
The Purple Eagles were able to figure out Smith at the 4:19 mark of the second period to knot the game up at one, capitalizing on the power play for the first time in the contest when Marshall Finnie was able to put home a pass from Glebs Prohorenkovs. Nicholas Niemo was also credited with an assist on the play.
Niagara took the lead at the 13:50 mark of the second when Finnie put away his second of the game once again on the power play, burying home a loose puck in the crease from a Hunter Wallace shot from a Jonathan Ziskie pass.
Declan McDonnell got the Purple Eagles their third power play goal of the contest at 10:50 in the third period as he put home a backdoor pass from Maxim Muranov. Niemo also tallied his second assist of the game on the play.
The Saints got back within one with a goal from Rasmus Svartstrom with three minutes remaining in the game. Niagara answered back 19 seconds later after St. Lawrence pulled their goaltender. Spencer Young found the empty net from the defensive zone with a breakout pass from Lane Brockhoff.
St. Lawrence pulled their netminder once again and McDonnell was able to find the empty net off a pass from Rolovs to record his second power play goal of the game at the 18:17 mark in the third.
Rolovs recorded 20 saves on way to his first collegiate win.
Niagara Notes
• Niagara is now 5-8-1 all-time against St. Lawrence.
• The Purple Eagles opened the season at home for the first time since the 2018-19 season which saw them defeat AIC 4-3 (OT).
• Niagara's five goals are the most in a season opener since the 2005-06 season when they scored six against Clarkson.
• Finnie became the first Purple Eagle freshman to score twice in their collegiate debut since Ludwig Stenlund (10/12/18) against AIC.
• Niagara's four power-play goals are the most in a single game since 10/28/11 against Colgate.
Up Next
Niagara stays at home to take on Bowling Green Friday Oct. 10 at 6 pm at Dwyer Arena.
