NIAGARA UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
COLORADO SPRINGS, C.O. — A brilliant night in net by Brian Wilson and a late surge from the Niagara offense lifted the Purple Eagles to a 5-0 win at the Air Force Academy. The team got three third period goals to open the game up late and ensure the victory.
Game Recap
- With 11:39 elapsed in the first period, Ben Sokaycashed in a rebound from Eric Cooley to take the lead and notch his first goal of the season.
- Niagara successfully shut down a 23-second 5-on-3 and the subsequent penalty late in the period to protect the lead heading into the first intermission. The Falcons got four shots off with the advantage, but only one during the 5-on-3 which was easily cradled by goaltender Brian Wilson.
- Dylan Mills continued to pile on the points by adding his second goal of the year. Jack Zielinski peeled the puck away from the Falcons in the neutral zone and Reed Robinsonfought off two defenders to get a shot off from the top of the crease. Robinson’s hustle drew a penalty while his rebound was cleaned up by Mills, who got it behind the goalie for an easy tap-in with 3:19 to play in the second period.
- Early in the third, Air Force appeared to get on the board after ringing a shot off the pipe and applying pressure until the puck passed Wilson. However, head coach Jason Lammersopted to challenge the play, believing the Falcons entered zone offside. After review, the officials concurred and reversed the call.
- 6:39 into the period, Alex Truscott increased the lead to 3-0. Truscott forced a turnover in the Niagara end and carried the puck all the way to the front of the Air Force net. He got a shot off while two Falcons got tangled up, freeing Truscott to get the puck back in front, where it redirected off an Air Force player and in.
- Just three minutes later, Zach Mills got Niagara’s fourth of the night directly off a faceoff, getting a shot off while falling and finding the back of the net.
- Air Force opted to pull their goalie with nearly seven minutes remaining and Zielinski immediately capitalized. After a faceoff near center ice, the defenseman sent the puck down the ice and into the wide open net.
Beyond The Boxscore
- The Purple Eagles have now won three straight road games against Air Force, the most since they won seven straight at the Academy between January 27, 2002 and February 19, 2005.
- Wilson earned his second career shutout by turning aside all 39 shots from the Falcons. Wilson was also one save shy of tying a career best, when he saved 40 on December 1, 2017, also at Air Force.
- In the only other men’s college hockey game going on tonight, No. 2 St. Cloud State also won via shutout, 7-0, over Boston College.
Up Next
- The Purple Eagles will finish out the series tomorrow with another puck drop at 7 p.m. Mountain Time, 9 p.m. Eastern Time.
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