NIAGARA UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
PITTSBURGH, P.A. — The Niagara University men’s hockey team fell in the first game of their series at Robert Morris, 3-1, on Friday night. The Colonials (3-3-1, 2-2-1 AHA) outshot the Purple Eagles (2-5-0, 2-3-0 AHA) by a 30-13 margin.
Game Recap
- Just 3:33 into the contest Robert Morris was sent to the penalty kill. Noah Delmas, Ben Sokay and Dylan Mills all got shot attempts off but none made it to the goaltender.
- Nearly eight minutes in, Kris Spriggs picked up a turnover in the neutral zone and raced in ahead of the Colonials’ defense. Spriggs managed to work a backhanded shot off and lift it over the goaltender’s shoulder, but the puck rang off the post. Trailing on the play, Johnny Curran found the rebound, but missed it wide.
- With 19.5 seconds remaining in the first, Nick Farmer found the back of the net thanks to a feed from Johnny Curran.
- It looked as though the lead would hold until the break, but with less than a second to go the Colonials found an answer. It was initially reviewed to see if the puck crossed after time expired, but the call and goal both stood and the teams went into the locker rooms tied, 1-1.
- With Sokay in the box and 12 minutes to play in the second, Robert Morris held the puck deep in the Niagara end. Brian Wilson made several quick saves, none bigger than his rejection of Daniel Mantenuto with the left pad.
- On a Niagara power play, Ludwig Stenlund found himself with space and time to fire a rocket towards the net, but missed the chance just wide.
- On the same penalty, Robert Morris got a shorthanded breakaway opportunity, but Wilson got the butt end of his stick on the puck to send it into the corner.
- With a Colonial in the box, Niagara had a chance to tie the game up early in the third. The best chance on the power play came when Dylan Mills cycled back up towards the blue line and dished to Eric Cooley, who let go a one-timer that was turned aside by the keeper.
Beyond The Boxscore
- Despite 10 shots taken, Niagara failed to put a puck on net in the second period.
Up Next
- The final game of the series will be back in Pittsburgh tomorrow night. The Purple Eagles will clash with Robert Morris again at 7 p.m.
