ERIE, Pa. – The No. 15 Niagara hockey team earned a 4-2 victory over Mercyhurst Saturday evening at the Mercyhurst Ice Center, sweeping the season series against the Atlantic Hockey opponents.
For the game, Ryan Murphy and Marc Zanette accounted for a goal and an assist each, while Ryan Rashid and Hugo Turcotte picked up a goal.
Goaltender Carsen Chubak made 31 saves to earn his 21st win of the season.
“That’s a great weekend of hockey for us, especially tonight with a very good road effort,” head coach David Burkholder said. “Just look at the second period when they get on the board to tie it 1-1 and we responded with a great power play goal from Ryan Rashid and then 30 seconds with the Turcotte, Kohls and Divjak goal that set them back on their heels. It certainly wasn’t the way we wanted the third period to go, but when you’re killing that many penalties they’re going to have some momentum.”
Niagara’s top line of Murphy, Giancarlo Iuorio and Zanette needed just 26 seconds to open the scoring as Zanette put the Purple Eagles ahead 1-0 with his ninth goal of the year. Iuorio picked up a clear from Murphy along the board and raced in on Mercyhurst goaltender Jordan Tibbett with Zanette, slipping a pass to the right winger for the easy tap in.
The opening period wrapped up with Niagara holding an 11-7 advantage in shots.
Mercyhurst evened up the game while on the man advantage at the 8:17 mark of the second frame. Kyle Just connected with Chris Bodo on the doorstep of the crease sneaking a one timer between the legs of Chubak to make it a 1-1 contest.
The lead did not last long as a pair of quick tallies by the Purps less than two minutes later pushed the team ahead by two going into the second intermission.
Rashid was the first to light the lamp, earning his ninth goal of the season while on the power play. With 6:06 remaining on the clock Rashid and Kevin Ryan exchanged passes at the top of the blue line, before Rashid roofed a slap shot over the shoulder of Tibbet. Thirty seconds later, Turcotte and Patrick Divjak combined for a quick one-two combination that ended on Turcotte’s stick for his fifth score of the year.
The Lakers amped up the pressure in the final frame, peppering Chubak with 14 shots while limiting the Purps to just four shots on Jimmy Sarjeant who took over goaltending duties.
Despite their limited opportunities, Niagara tallied the period’s first goal off the stick of Murphy. Zanette skated down center ice and dropped a saucer pass to Murphy who roared down the wing and lifted a backhander over Sarjeant for his 15th tally of the season.
Bodo would add a power play goal with 41 seconds remaining in the contest.
The Purple Eagles wrap up the regular season next weekend in Colorado Springs, Colo. as Niagara faces off against Air Force Friday and Saturday, March 1-2 at Cadet Ice Arena. Both contests are scheduled to begin at 9:05 p.m. eastern.
