Box Score

HAMILTON, N.Y. (1/5/07) – No. 19 Niagara scored two power-play goals in the third period to erase a 2-1 deficit and beat Colgate, 3-2, on Friday, Jan. 5, at Starr Rink. Chris Moran netted the winning goal for the Purple Eagles (12-6-3), and assisted on the other two scores as NU went 3-for-8 on the power play.

With less than seven minutes left in regulation, Niagara set up their offense on the power play. The Purple Eagles cycled the puck for about a minute, with Ted Cook crossing to Pat Oliveto at the right point, and Oliveto giving it to Moran at the left point. Moran took a slapshot that squeaked over Raider junior goaltender Mark Dekanich’s (North Vancouver, B.C.) glove as he was screened by Les Reaney.

After a scramble at the left dot about seven minutes into the final frame, Reaney tipped the puck to Cook, who skated in on Dekanich unopposed. At the bottom of the left circle, Cook fired a shot that entered the net high, over Dekanich’s blocker, to tie the game at 2-2.

Colgate (9-11-2) took a 1-0 lead 5:24 into the first period. Niagara sent the puck around the boards, but sophomore Nick St. Pierre (St. Etienne, Que.) stopped it and dumped it behind the net to senior Marc Fulton (Vancouver, B.C.). Fulton quickly passed from behind the net around the left post to junior Jesse Winchester (Long Sault, Ont.), who one-timed it into the net top-shelf, blocker side.

Four minutes later, junior Ben Camper (Rocky River, Ohio) was ejected from the game and saddled with a five-minute major for checking from behind. On the ensuing power play, Niagara set up in the zone and cycled the puck for two minutes. Sean Bentivoglio passed from the left point to Moran in the slot. Moran threaded a pass between a pair of Colgate defenders to Cook in the left faceoff circle. Cook one-timed the puck over Dekanich’s blocker to tie the game at one-all.

Junior Tyler Burton (Langley, B.C.) scored the 50^th goal of his career with less than five minutes remaining in the second period on the power play. Sophomore Jason Fredricks (Eagle River, Wis.) crossed the puck to Burton as he entered the zone. Burton snapped a pass across the ice to Fulton on the right faceoff dot, and he one-timed the puck back to Burton through traffic. Burton received the pass then shot from the slot in the same motion, beating goaltender Juliano Pagliero who was caught out of position.

Dekanich finished the game with 30 saves, including 23 over the final two periods. Pagliero earned the win with 28 stops. The Raiders finished 1-for-5 on the power play, and dominated in the faceoff circle, 39-20, but were outshot, 33-30.

Colgate returns to ECACHL play next weekend when it travels to the North Country. The Raiders face a stiff test on Friday at No. 9 Clarkson before continuing on to St. Lawrence on Saturday. Both games begin at 7:00 p.m., and can be heard live online at www.goColgateRaiders.com.