MILFORD, Conn. – Sophomore defenseman Matt Chiarantano secured his first goal as a Purple Eagle and Jackson Teichroeb made 27 saves as the Niagara hockey team picked up a 4-1 victory against Sacred Heart on Saturday evening at the Milford Ice Pavilion to split the season series against the Pioneers.
Isaac Kohls and Hugo Turcotte each pocketed a two-point evening off a goal and an assist each, while Ryan Rashid and Vincent Muto earned a pair of points off two assists each. TJ Sarcona wrapped up the scoring for Niagara, who pushed its record to 8-15-3 overall, and 8-8-3 in conference play.
The Purple and White outshot their conference opponent, 35-28 on the game, including limiting SHU’s to seven opportunities in six power play opportunities that consisted of a five-minute major in the third period.
“We faced some adversity with the five minute kill to start the third period,” head coach Dave Burkholder said. “Tonight’s game had playoff atmosphere to it so it was nice to come through in the final period and earn the victory.”
The Purple Eagles came out of the opening faceoff energized, looking to avenge last night’s last second upset to the Pioneers (7-19-0; 6-13-0 AHA). The two teams combined for 10 minutes in penalties in the opening period, with Niagara being the only squad to capitalize with the extra attacker. Sacred Heart’s Ben Lake was called for goalie interference at17:53, allowing the Purple Eagles’ power play unit to go to work for the second time that evening. With a little over a minute remaining on the man-advantage, Chiarantano finished off a play set up by Muto and Kohls with a slap shot from the point to make it 1-0.
Matt Chartrain had a golden chance in the second stanza to double up Niagara’s lead, but his shot towards a wide open net from just outside the blue paint sailed wide. Turcotte followed that will an opportunity of his own, causing a Sacred Heart turnover in its defensive end that led to a breakaway opportunity, but his attempt to go top shelf was deflected high of the cage by Bodnarchuk.
After killing off a five-minute major in the opening seconds of the final period, Niagara gave itself a two-goal cushion at 8:51 when Kohls made it a 2-0 game on a scrum in front of the net. Bodnarchuk could not handle Rashid’s initial shot, and Kohls jumped on the loose puck to the right of the goaltender and pushed it home for his team-leading 11th of the season what would eventually stand as the game winner.
Teichroeb remained perfect between the pipes up until the 12:27 mark of the third period when Jacob Brightbill let fly a shot from the top of the slot to make it a 2-1 game. Sarcona was able to secure a critical separation goal for the Purple and White at 14:40 with his eighth of the year. Latching onto the rebound from an unsuccessful shot from Chartrain, Sarcona tucked the puck inside the near post before Bodnarchuk could get there.
Turcotte would make it a 4-1 game with 1:50 remaining in the contest to lock up the victory.
Niagara and cross-town rival Canisius go head-to-head in a home-and-home series onThursday, Feb. 6 at Dwyer and Saturday, Feb. 8 at the Buffalo State Sports Arena. Both contests are scheduled for 7:05 p.m. starts.
