NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – After taking a 4-3 overtime win over RPI to start a weekend of home matchups against ECAC opponents, the Niagara Purple Eagles men’s hockey team dropped a 5-1 decision to the Union Dutchmen Saturday night at Dwyer Arena. Johnny Curran picked up the lone goal for the Purple Eagles, his third in two games this weekend. The Dutchmen handed the Purple Eagles (2-2-0, 1-0-0 AHC) their first home loss of the season.
Game Summary
* Final Score: Union 5, Niagara 1
* Niagara Goals: Johnny Curran
* Niagara Assists: Noah Delmas, Derian Plouffe
* In Goal: Guillaume Therien (2-1-0) – 5 GA, 23 SV
* Power Plays: Niagara – 1-3 (2 SOG); Union – 1-6 (9 SOG)
* Records: Niagara – 2-2-0 (1-0-0 AHC); Union – 2-5-0 (0-0-0 ECAC)
* Location: Dwyer Arena – Niagara University, N.Y.
* Attendance: 823
Game Recap
* Union opened the scoring just 36 seconds into the game as Jack Adams redirected a point shot from Joseph Campolieto that got past Niagara’s Guillaume Therien.
* The Purple Eagles held with Union and took a 9-7 shots on goal advantage through 20 minutes, killing off a 5-on-3 at the start of the second period to keep it a one-goal game.
* Niagara nearly tied the game on a shorthanded breakaway chance from Tanner Lomsnes that was turned away by Union’s Darion Hanson. Eric Cooley had a shot at the rebound but Hanson made the pad save to keep the clean sheet.
* The Dutchmen pulled away for a 3-0 lead with six minutes to go in the second period after goals from Ryan Scarfo and Brendan Taylor.
* Niagara got its first goal of the game with 1:03 left in the second period. Noah Delmas set up Derian Plouffe for a one-time chance that was padded away by Hanson, but the rebound popped right to Johnny Curran for the tap-in goal.
* Not to be denied, the Dutchmen reclaimed the three-goal lead just 30 seconds later on a goal from Greg Campbell, making it 4-1 Union after 40 minutes of play.
* The Dutchmen outshot Niagara 12-8 in the final period and Scarfo scored his second goal of the night 3:13 into the final Stanza to make it 5-1 Union.
Coach’s Corner
* Head coach Jason Lammers: “To be honest, I thought we got better tonight. We got reminded of the importance of staying humble and how important that is. We got reminded of…the work required to win. We also got better in various areas and in how hard we compete. For us, it’s a disappointing result, but we are better because of this.”
Inside the Numbers
* Johnny Curran picked up his third goal in two games, giving him a team-high three goals for the season.
* Noah Delmas’ assist puts him in a tie with Curran for the team scoring lead at five points through four games. Delmas has one goal and four assists while Curran has three goals and two assists.
* Curran, Delmas, and Derian Plouffe all have points in all four of Niagara’s games to start the year.
* The Purple Eagles scored a power-play for a fourth consecutive game to start the season, the first time the team has done so since going six straight games with a power-play goal from Jan. 13 to 27, 2017.
* Niagara allowed its first power-play goal in non-conference play against the Dutchmen. Through three of six non-conference games, Niagara’s penalty kill is 15-for-16 (93.8%) while the power play is 3-for-12 (25.0 percent) outside of Atlantic Hockey.
* Keegan Harper registered another three blocked shots to finish the weekend with seven for the Purple Eagles. Nick Farmer tied Harper for game-high honors with three blocked shots while picking up four shots on goal and winning 14 of 22 faceoffs taken.
Up Next
* The Purple Eagles return to Atlantic Hockey play next weekend. Niagara heads to Sacred Heart for a pair of road games, starting at 7:05 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 27 before a 2:05 p.m. matinee on Saturday, Oct. 28. After that, Niagara is back at Dwyer Arena for a four-game home stand starting Friday, Nov. 3 at 7:05 p.m. against the Bentley Falcons.
