Worcester, Mass. – Niagara's men's hockey team fell 5-1 to Holy Cross in Atlantic Hockey action on Friday night. The loss dropped the Purple Eagles to 3-5-0 overall and 0-3-0 in conference play, while the Crusaders improved to 4-5-1 overall and 4-1-1 in league games.

Holy Cross broke through at 13:02 with the game's first goal. Ty Gagno found the back of the net at even strength, assisted by Noah Eyre and Lachlan Getz, giving the Crusaders a 1-0 lead they would carry into the intermission.

Niagara netminder Tomas Anderson made 14 saves in the period to keep Niagara within striking distance.

Holy Cross doubled their lead when Michael Abgrall scored on the power play at 3:49, assisted by Mack Oliphant and Matt DeBoer, extending the lead to 2-0.

Just 1:25 later, at 5:14, the Crusaders struck again. Connor Welsh scored at even strength with assists from Gagno and Dax Williams, pushing the advantage to 3-0.

Anderson remained busy in net, making 13 more saves to keep the deficit at three goals heading into the final period.

Just 48 seconds into the frame, Andy Reist finally solved MacKenzie, scoring at even strength with assists from Marshall Finnie and Jonathan Ziskie to cut the deficit to 3-1.

Holy Cross restored the three-goal lead at 10:41 when Jack Stockfish scored at even strength, assisted by Johnston and DeBoer, making it 4-1. 

The parade to the penalty box continued for Niagara with infractions from Brockhoff 

The Crusaders took advantage of an extended power-play, with DeBoer scoring on the man advantage at 14:07, assisted by Abgrall and Hymovitch, to make it 5-1.

The Purple Eagles managed eight shots in the period but couldn't mount any serious comeback attempt.

Game Notes

Niagara is now 14-23-5 all-time against Holy Cross

Anderson made a career-high 41 saves in the loss

Glebs Prohorenkovs led the Purple and White with four blocks

Up Next

Niagara wraps up the weekend series with the Crusaders Saturday November 7 at 2 pm.