Fairfield, Conn. - Niagara men's hockey fell in game one of the Atlantic Hockey Quarterfinals to Sacred Heart 3-1 Friday night.
The Purple Eagles move to 13-22-1, 9-17-1 AHA, while the Pioneers improve to 20-12-3, 16-8-3 AHA.
Sacred Heart struck first at the 15:22 mark of the first period, capitalizing on a power-play opportunity when Reid Pabich beat Niagara netminder Deivs Rolovs off feeds from Gavin Bryant and Felix Trudeau.
The Purple Eagles pressured the Pioneers throughout the first frame putting 11 shots on net, but were not able to find a way to beat Ajeet Gundarah. Rolovs made nine saves in the period.
Dallon Melin tipped a Declan McDonnell shot past Gundarah at 1:44 into the second frame to knot the game up at one for Niagara. Jacob Maillet also was credited with an assist on the play.
Sacred Heart regained the lead with four minutes remaining in the period. Vitaly Levvy put the Pioneers up one with assists from Liam Lesakowski and Michael Rubin.
The Purple Eagles kept on the pressure with eight shots in the period, while Rolovs made another 10 saves trailing 2-1 heading into the third.
Niagara kept the pressure on during the third registering another 11 shots, but with the goaltender pulled for the extra attacker Trudeau tacked on an empty-net goal to move the Pioneers lead to 3-1.Â
Rolovs stopped 27 Sacred Heart shots, while Gundarah made 29 saves.
Game Notes
Niagara is now 22-21-2 all-time against Sacred Heart
Melin found the back of the net for the first time since 2/7/26 against Air Force
The face-off battle was even at 29 with Glebs Prohorenkovs winning nine
Melin and McDonnell led the Purple and White with six shots on goal a piece
Up Next
Niagara continues the Atlantic Hockey Quarterfinals with a must-win game two against Sacred Heart, Saturday March 7 at 5:00 pm.
