https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16hQ4Ka4NQI
NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – The No. 20 Niagara hockey team fell behind by a pair of goals in the second period and could not recover as the Clarkson Golden Knights earned a 2-0 victory on Sunday afternoon at Dwyer Arena.
The Golden Knights (2-0-0) kept Niagara (0-2-0) off the scoreboard in the second game of the weekend series to sweep the Purple Eagles in the first two games of the 2013-14 season.
“Considering the quick turnaround between the games I thought we played with a lot of jam and we were physical,” head coach Dave Burkholder said. “There was no quit which is all you can ask of them. Our guys are judged on their work ethic and their commitment to detail. If they work hard our coaching staff can accept that.”
Clarkson scored the game’s only two goals of the contest in the second frame to give itself a two-goal cushion heading into the final period. The first goal came eight minutes into the period while on the man-advantage as Joe Zarbo took a snap shot at the top of the left circle that snuck in over the shoulder of Niagara goaltender Adrian Ignagni.
The second tally game six minutes later off the stick of defenseman Paul Geiger. The sophomore faked a shot before stepping around an NU defender and roofing the puck top shelf.
Niagara finished the period with a powerplay opportunity, getting seven looks on net before heading into the second intermission trailing by two.
The third frame saw NU amp up the pressure, outshooting Clarkson 11-8, but the team could not find an answer to Clarkson goaltender Steve Perry. The best opportunity for the Purps in the period came off the stick of Sam Alfieri while on powerplay. Ryan Rashid slid across ice pass to the junior who was standing on the doorstep of the Clarkson net, but his one-timer met the sliding pad of Perry. Moments later, Isaac Kohls whipped a shot from a bad angle towards net that slid across the blue paint.
Ignagni finished his first game as Purple Eagle with 27 saves.
“Ignagni was great in net for us,” added Burkholder. “He handled the puck really well a couple times and got us some whistles when we needed them. Like yesterday we were in the game because of our goaltenders which is a real positive that we will build on especially now that we’re getting into conference play.”
Niagara will take to the ice against Canisius on Saturday, Oct. 12 for the season’s first Atlantic Hockey contest in a rematch of the 2013 conference semifinal. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Dwyer Arena.
Don’t miss out as the cross-town rivalries clash so get your tickets now by calling the Niagara Ticket Office (located inside Dwyer Arena) at 716-286-TIXX, visit www.PurpleEagles.com/TIckets or by emailing [email protected].
