Niagara University, N.Y. — Charles-Edward Gravel made 40 saves, but Union scored three times in the third period, two of them into an empty net, to beat Niagara 4-1 in a nonconference game Friday night.
The Purple Eagles fell to 3-4-0, while the Garnet Chargers improved to 3-1-0.
First period: Union 0, Niagara 0
Gravel stopped all 14 Union shots in the period, and Niagara blocked four others. Niagara had the first look, but Dallon Melin's shot 14 seconds in was blocked. Union had the first power play at 1:30, and Niagara killed the 42 seconds that remained after a Union interference penalty at 2:12 made it 4-on-4.
Niagara's own man advantage lasted from 3:30 to 4:12 and produced one shot on goal, by Josh Van Mulligen. Union then took over, putting up 10 shots in a stretch from 5:31 to 9:18. Gravel stopped Tyler Dunbar and Luke Buss, who each had two or more chances.
Niagara's blocks kept the count down, with Marshall Finnie, Lemieux, Spencer Young and Alix Durocher each getting in front of a shot. Niagara won 11 of 19 faceoffs in the period and finished with 9 shots, including two apiece from Noah Hackett and Jack Richard. Gillespie saved all of them.
Second period: Union 1, Niagara 0
Niagara went on the power play at 1:17 when Will Felicio was called for hooking. Lemieux and Young each put a shot on goal, but Union killed it. Finnie and Van Mulligen kept the pressure on after the penalty expired, with three shots on goal from 3:17 to 3:45.
Union controlled the middle of the period. Gravel stopped several Garnet Chargers shots and Niagara blocked several more through Lemieux, Young, Muranov and Finnie. Young hit the pipe at 11:21, the closest Niagara came to scoring. Through 12 saves in the period and 26 over the first two, Gravel had not allowed a goal.
That changed on a power play. Connor Smith scored at 16:05, assisted by Laurenza and Nathan Free, to make it 1-0.
Third period: Union 3, Niagara 1
Niagara had a chance to tie early but could not get one. Union pulled its goalie on a delayed call at 3:46, and when Andy Reist was sent off for tripping at 3:54, the Dutchmen scored 34 seconds into the power play. Free's goal at 4:28, assisted by Laurenza and Felicio, made it 2-0 and was the game-winner.
Gravel kept it there for a long stretch, stopping seven shots in 43 seconds from 5:16 to 5:59, including three straight attempts by Gavin Garry. Niagara killed two more Union power plays, with Roberto Mancini, Ross Roloson and Reist blocking shots and Gravel stopping Smith twice.
Niagara pulled Gravel for an extra attacker at 15:20 and again after Union's Jack Henry went off for slashing at 15:31. Niagara kept its goalie out at 16:51, and Riley Brueck scored into the empty net at 18:09 for a 3-0 lead while Niagara was shorthanded.
Union's Hart was then penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct, and Niagara went back to a six-skater power play. Muranov scored at 18:35 from Finnie and Hackett to cut it to 3-1, his first goal of the season.
Niagara pulled Gravel once more at 18:51, and Lucas Buzziol scored into the empty net at 19:07 from Smith and Brueck.
Niagara Notes
Niagara is now 0-12-1 against Union
Muranov netted his first goal of the season
Seven Purple Eagles all recorded three shots on goal
Gravel tallied a season-high 40 saves
Spencer Young and Ray Murakami both had three blocks
Up Next
Niagara wraps up the weekend with Union Saturday October 24 at 6:00 pm inside Dwyer Arena.
