NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – Giancarlo Iuorio lit the lamp three times to lead the fourteenth-ranked Niagara hockey team to a 4-3 win over Robert Morris at Dwyer Arena on Friday evening to guarantee Niagara at least a share of the Atlantic Hockey regular-season title.
After clinching a first-round bye in the upcoming playoffs last weekend, the Purple Eagles (19-5-5; 18-2-2 AHA) used an outstanding effort from Iuorio and strong play throughout the lineup to propel NU into a tie for first place in the Atlantic Hockey standings. This is the team’s first AHA title since the program entered into the conference in 2010-11. The Purps need one more point in the remaining five contests to have sole possession of the AHA regular-season title.
Tonight, NU used multi-point nights from Iuorio and Isaac Kohls, and received a goal from Kevin Albers to extend the nation’s longest unbeaten streak at 19 games.
“You really have to give this team credit. When Iuorio was gone the guys were stepping up,” head coach Dave Burkholder said. “Obviously to have your senior captain and leading scorer back is huge. When you need a big play, he’s your goal scorer. Every time Robert Morris got back in the game he was the momentum swing for us in a positive way. It’s great to have him back.”
The opening period saw the Colonials (15-12-2; 10-11-1 AHA) take the game’s first lead with Niagara tying it up in the final six minutes. Robert Morris opened the game’s scoring with 13:23 on the clock when Evan Moore saw his shot from the left faceoff circle tipped in past NU goaltender Carsen Chubak.
Niagara rebounded at 14:24 with Iuorio’s first goal of the game. The senior got his stick on a shot from Kevin Ryan for his 13th goals of the season. Kohls was credited with the second assist.
The Purple Eagles scored another pair of markers in the second period to make it 3-2 at the second intermission. Niagara grabbed its first lead of the game at the 9:10 mark when Ryan Murphy picked up his own rebound on Eric Levine and wrapped it around the goaltender to Albers who was waiting at the top of the slot for his second goal of the season.
Less than three minutes later Iuorio snagged his second tally of the evening to give the Purps a two-goal cushion. Hugo Turcotte and Kohls rushed into the Colonial defensive zone on a 2-on-1. Turcotte slipped a feed to Kohls for the one-timer with Iuoruio picking up the rebound and flipping it over a sprawling Levine.
The Colonials rallied back to cut NU’s lead in half heading into the final period. With 7:24 remaining in the stanza, Zac Lynch was able to battle through a couple Niagara defenders and backhand the puck through the pads of Chubak for his third goals of the year.
At 4:01 of the final frame, Robert Morris tied the contest with Scott Jacklin’s seventh goal of the season. Adam Brace found Jacklin waiting right outside the blue paint, and the sophomore beat Chubak with a high shot over the shoulder.
Iuorio brought the crowd to its feet with just 53 seconds remaining in the game when he and Marc Zanette combined for the game-winning score. Zanette jump started the play with a forced turnover down low behind the net, kicking out the puck to Iuorio in the slot who netted his second hat trick of the season, and 15th goal of the year into the top left corner.
“We had a lot of trouble with Robert Morris’ speed. We were on our heels probably the last 40 minutes,” Burkholder added. “That was a tough hockey game for us, and a huge win. I’m glad we stuck in there and got it done.”
Chubak wrapped up the game with 29 saves to improve his record to 19-4-5.
The Purple Eagles head to Moon Township, Pa. tomorrow to take on Robert Morris in the second game of the home-and-home series. Saturday’s game is at 7:05 p.m.
