ACHA Purple Eagles Extend Winning Streak
This past weekend the Niagara University ACHA Purple Eagles continued their winning ways with convincing wins over St.Bonaventure and Mercyhurst. The Purple Eagles have been demonstrating exceptional chemistry throughout this winning streak and it has translated into confidence that the team has carried on the ice.
The Purple Eagles traveled to St.Bonaventure on Saturday December 10th and they would get on the scoreboard first courtesy of Tyler Stockwell with Rob McNamara and Chris Gasiewicz getting assists in the process. Halfway through the first period David Fish would score a power play goal courtesy of Frank Vecchio and Tyler Stockwell to put Niagara up 2-0. St.Bonaventure would beat Cory Leonard with five minutes remaining in the period, but Niagara would take a 2-1 lead heading into the intermission. In the second period Bonaventure would score the only goal with three minutes left in the period. Dalton Bew would open the scoring in the third period as the Purple Eagles would go on to score six goals in the third period. Seth Gustin, Dallas Szustak, and Andrew Mitch all picked up assists on both of Bew’s goals. Andrew Mitch would find the back of the net as Dalton Bew would set him up. Szustak would get the secondary assist on Mitch’s goal. David Fish would score his send of the night with seven minutes left in the game. The Niagara scoring machine would continue as Tyler Stockwell would get his second of the night with Mike Burke and Chris Gasiewicz both getting assists on the goal. Chris Selak would score the last goal for the Purple Eagles in the highly offensive third period. Cory Leonard would pick up the win making 19 saves on 21 shots against the Bonnies.
The Purple Eagles would return home on Sunday to battle Mercyhurst University and would jump to an early lead as Trevor Evans would score a beautiful goal on a nice feed from David Fish to put Niagara up by one. Matt Janketic would get the secondary assist on the goal. Dalton Bew continued his hot streak picking up another goal with help from Dallas Szustak. The Niagara power play would convert after Andrew Mitch would bury a shot from Dalton Bew and Matt Janketic. Niagara’s power play would go 1 for 4 on the night with the aforementioned goal as the only power play goal of the evening. Mike Parda would stop 11 Merychurst shots in the first period. Mercyhurst would close the lead to two in the second period on a power play goal, but that would be all they would be able to muster as Dallas Szustak would get the lead back for Niagara off a deflected shot that Andrew Mitch to the net. Daze Hazelet made a great play off the Mercyhurst turnover to set up the play for Niagara. Mike Parda made nine saves in the second period alone giving up a goal on the Mercyhurst power play. Dallas Szustak would seal the deal scoring an empty net goal with a minute left in the game with help from Dalton Bew. Mike Parda would pick up the win making 29 saves on 30 shots in the victory for the Purple Eagles.
The team will be heading into the extended holiday break on a seven game winning streak, the longest for the team this season. As the team enters the second semester they will look to fine tune their game, but continue the play the fast and physical game that has brought them success in the previous weeks.
