First Month of the Season

So I haven't actually been following closely to my schedule of blogging about each contest. But I endeavour to do better. So here we go...

We started the year with an exhibition win in a blow out and consecutive ties with Merrimack and UMASS-Lowell, in coach MacDonald's Homecoming game. The Merrimack game was an early lesson for this young club, as they squandered a 3-1 lead to trail 4-3 in a matter of 2:48 in the second period. We gave up a two goal lead, and Noonan looked like DiNunzio and Judge Smails were heckling him. However, freshman Ryan Rashid poked one in to tie the game, and that's how it ended.

The following week, we welcomed UMASS-Lowell and Former Niagara Head Coach, Blaise MacDonald into the friendly confines of Dwyer. Niagara scored two Power Play goals, one by Paul Zanette, but gave up a power play goal a minute into the second period. Mike Scheu, a Buffalo native scored to make the score 1-1. Despite a second PP goal in the second, we couldn't hold the lead, and gave up the tying goal in the third. Freshman Carsen Chubek made 12 saves in the third to preserve the tie.

What followed was a 6-1 drubbing at Union, which does not require any discussion, beyond saying that Chubek gave up 4 goals on 15 shots in the second, earning both his first collegiate loss, and his first fishing pole of his career. Union scored all their second period goals in the first 12:01 of the stanza and added 2 more in the third to close out the game.

The next night, Niagara again started out behind the eight ball giving up two first period goals at RPI. After blanking the second, Niagara roared back with two power play goals in the third, after Polacek had scored to give RPI a 3-1 lead. Marc, and then Paul, Zanette each scored, to send the game to overtime. However, Chubek gave up another one in overtime, and RPI sent Niagara home with a 4-3 OT Loss.

Finally, we get to this past weekend, and conference play for the Purps inaugural season in Atlantic Hockey. We opened the conference slate with a strong performance at home against Mercyhurst. Mercyhurst scored 15 minutes into the first, but Niagara's jumpy PP unit answered a minute later when Giancarlo Iuorio scored to tie the game at 1. Niagara traded goals early in the second, and took their first lead when Rashid scored on that pesky PP again. Mercyhurst would come back to tie, but Niagara took the lead for good with 41 seconds left in the frame, when David Ross converted the Danny Baco feed for what would become the game winner. Niagara added an additional PP goal in the third to seal the win, and Chubek got his first collegiate win, giving Niagara their first AH conference win.

The next night, shaky goaltending, and a flat start did in the Purps. Our old CHA foe Robert Morris was in town for its second in two nights as well, having lost at RIT for their first loss of the year on Friday night. They jumped all over the unready Niagara club, taking a 2-0 lead after two periods. Niagara charged back in the third, scoring 2 minutes in and again 4 minutes later on the Power Play. Iuorio set up both goals. However, Noonan, getting just his second start of the year, gave up a softie on a long clapper with about eight and a half remaining, and that deflated the charging eagles. RMU would add an empty netter and run their record to 5-1-0 on the year. Niagara is left 1-1 in conference play, but 1-3-2 overall.

GOOD THINGS

Power Play
Zanette Brothers
Giancarlo Iuorio

BAD THINGS

Goaltending
First Periods
Upperclassmen Leadership

NEXT UP:

A rare Tuesday Tilt with cross town rival Canisius @ Buffalo State (because those damn nancy boys still don't have a rink), followed by an away game Friday @ Hockey East's Northeastern.