“We had a great second period and that’s about it,” head coach Dave Burkholder said. “I thought in the first period that we looked like a team coming off of a bye week. They had more jump than us, a little more passion, but in the second we turned the table on them.”
NU outshot Holy Cross (6-5-4; 5-1-4 AHA) 15-7 in the period, but was only able to convert the one scoring opportunity.
The Crusaders opened the scoring a little over three minutes into the game and added another tally halfway through the first to build their 2-0 lead. They scored 3:20 into the third period to rebuild their two-goal lead and finished the scoring at the 16:39 mark of the third to take its final 4-1 lead. Both third-period goals came with the man advantage.
“Take away their first goal, if we get out of the first down 1-0 you never know, but we answered in the second and didn’t in the third,” said Burkholder. “That first goal early in the game is a big factor when you’re playing against arguably the best goalie in the league down in their crease.”
The narrow shot advantage went to the visitors by a 30-29 final after 60 minutes. Jackson Teichroeb took the loss in net after making 26 saves. Niagara went 0-for-4 with the man advantage while Holy Cross converted 2-of-6 opportunities.
There was a ceremonial puck drop before the game to honor Frank Layden, the legendary Niagara basketball player and coach who went on to win awards as the coach and general manager of the Utah Jazz. The court at the Gallagher Center will be dedicated as the Frank and Barbara Layden Court before Saturday’s basketball game between NU and Canisius.
