HAMILTON — Despite cutting the lead to one twice, Colgate could not complete a comeback, falling 5-2 to Niagara Friday evening.
Tommy Bergsland scored both of the Raiders' goals, and each came during four-on-four play.
Just over eight minutes into the third, after the Raiders got called for a five-minute major, Niagara got hit with a penalty of its own.
Nick Anderson forced a Purple Eagles turnover in the defensive zone, and the puck landed at the stick of
Daniel Panetta, who passed it to Bergsland. The junior then took it down the ice and fired a low shot into the goal, putting the score at 3-2.
Bergsland got Colgate on the board and made it a 2-1 game with 3:04 remaining in the second period with his first four-on-four goal.
Ryan McGuire passed to
Pierson Brandon, who skated in and tried a shot from in front of the goal that deflected off the goalie to Bergsland, who flipped a shot over the outstretched netminder as he was falling to his knees.
The Purple Eagles' three goals in the final period, including two power play goals and an empty-netter, helped the visitors secure the 5-2 victory.
The first period was scoreless for nearly 16 minutes until Niagara netted two quick goals. David Posma notched one at the 15:58 mark to put his squad ahead 1-0. Just 33 seconds later, Noah Hackett scored to double the Purple Eagles' lead.
Colgate was awarded the first power play with 40 seconds left in the opening period, but it could not get anything going. The Raiders had another power play at the 8:53 mark of the middle frame after Niagara got called for tripping but once again failed to capitalize.
Colgate outshot the Purple Eagles 15-2 in the second period but struggled to put one in the back of the net. The Raiders finished the game with a 36-23 advantage.
Carter Gylander made 18 saves in net for Colgate.
UP NEXT
The Raiders and Purple Eagles will battle in the series finale Saturday at 7 p.m. inside the Class of 1965 Arena.
