NEWS

The Niagara University ACHA Purple Eagles came away with a sweep over Syracuse University and SUNY Cortland in two huge NECHL league games. The Purple Eagles knew they had to play their best against Syracuse and wanted to redeem themselves from last year’s playoff loss. The team did just that as they would drop Syracuse 6-2.

Niagara would open the scoring seven minutes into the first period as Andrew Mitch would get the only goal of the period. Dalton Bew would get his first point of the night on an assist, and Dave Hazelet would also pick up his first of two assists on the night. Mike Parda stood tall stopping 11 Syracuse shots in the first period. Niagara would fire eight shots on net, but only one would get through. The Purple Eagles would score two goals in the first five minutes of the second period, followed by two more just before the halfway mark. Ryan Peters would score two minutes into the period with Trevor Evans on the assist. Just two minutes later, Dalton Bew found the back of the net as Dallas Szustak would pick up his first point of the game and Dave Hazelet would get his second assist. A mere four minutes later, Chris Gasiewicz would find Tyler Stockwell who would put Niagara up 4-0. Just over three minutes later on the power play, Rob McNamara would bury his shot to put Niagara up 5-0 and convert on the power play. Zach Seither and Trevor Evans would both get assists on the goal. Both teams would fire 14 shots on net in the second period, as Syracuse would make a goaltending change after the fifth goal. Syracuse would score two goals in the third period, but it wouldn’t be enough as Dalton Bew would seal the deal for the Purple Eagles with Zach Seither and Dallas Szustak picking up their second assists of the night. Mike Parda would make 43 saves on 45 shots as the Purple Eagles put together a strong team effort killing 9 of 10 Syracuse power plays in the process.  The confidence of this team is beginning to appear and with the team extending their winning streak against Syracuse they would ride this energy to Cortland for an afternoon battle with the Red Dragons where they would come away victorious 9-3.

This game proved to be quiet energetic and physical as both teams would combine for 108 penalty minutes including 10 different misconduct penalties between both squads. Despite all the penalties, Niagara would for 3 for 5 on the power play as Cortland would go 2 for 9. Ryan Peters would open the scoring getting two goals in the first ten minutes. David Fish and Trevor Evans would get assists on the first goal, while Andrew Mitch and Dalton Bew would pick up assists on the second goal which was also a power play goal. Just over a minute later, Ryan Ball would find the back of the net with Noah Koenig and Tom Skura getting helpers in the process. Two minutes later, Tyler Stockwell would put Niagara up on the power play with help coming from Patrick Manning and Andrew Mitch. Niagara would take a 4-0 lead a 15-5 shot lead into the second period. Cortland would score goal power play goals in the second period, and outshoot Niagara 19-7 but Andrew Depuy would stand tall in the period for the Purple Eagles. After a penalty filled second period, the Purple Eagles would continue their offensive ways with Noah Koenig putting Niagara up 5-2 with Tom Skura picking up yet another assist. Patrick Manning would score three minutes later and Skura would have yet another assist. Two minutes after that, Dalton Bew would score with assists coming from Andrew Mitch and Zach Seither. Niagara would then capitalize on the power play with David Fish finding the back of the net on the power play with Tyler Stockwell and Zach Seither both getting assists. Cortland would score again, but Niagara would respond just before the end of the game with Trevor Evans scoring the final goal with Ryan Paters and Zach Seither getting assists in the process. Cortland would first 18 shots on goal in the third period, but Andrew Depuy failed to give way as he made 39 saves on 42 shots. The Purple Eagles would take this game and extend their winning streak yet again.

With two huge wins in the books, Niagara will battle St.Bonaventure on Saturday, December 10th at 3PM on the road before heading back home on Sunday to face Mercyhurt on Sunday, December 11th at 5PM at Dwyer Arena.