COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – An invigorated Niagara program under first-year coach Jason Lammers continued its rise with a dominant, winning road performance against Air Force.
The Purple Eagles never trailed and pulled away with a power-play goal and a shorthanded tally in the second period en route to a 6-3 win on Friday night at Cadet Ice Arena.
For Lammers, the program’s surge rests with the determination of the Purple Eagles to revive their program, which went to the 2013 NCAA Tournament and not had a winning season since.
“The players have made the difference,” Lammers said. “They created a culture they wanted to see and it is our job as coaches to hold them accountable to that culture they wanted. But it ultimately comes down to those guys in the (locker) room. They are really trusting in themselves and in each other and it’s been fun to be a part of (that).”
With Friday’s win, Niagara improved to 8-5-1 (7-2-1 league) entering Saturday’s league series finale, for the Atlantic Hockey Conference member’s best win total since the 2013-14 season (15-20-5), when NU eliminated AFA in the playoff quarterfinals.
Lammers isn’t worried about the past. He intentionally did not watch game video from previous seasons. Instead, his staff focused on adding speed to the lineup, which allowed an aggressive forecheck to generate scoring chances.
“We had real good finish tonight,” Lammers said. “We have worked real hard to develop that (speed) in practice and recruit it. The guys have really amped up their effort in practice to become faster. Our forecheck really disrupted them and made their (defensive zone) exits hard. It really helped create turnovers.”
It worked well before 1,974 fans at Cadet Ice Arena, where NU won for the first time since eliminating AFA in that aforementioned playoff series.
The Falcons defense struggled against a Niagara squad that played faster and stronger.
“We got what we deserved,” Air Force coach Frank Serratore said. “Tonight, they were a bigger, stronger, faster, more willing, much more willing, team than us. They scored six legit goals. We have to be willing to be one step ahead of their pressure. We have to be willing to win races to pucks. We better come back with some testosterone or it will be the same thing (series Game 2) Saturday night.”
Niagara pulled away when Johnny Curran knocked in a power-play rebound with 12:18 left in the second period for a 4-2 edge. The Purple Eagles sealed the win when Derian Plouffe knocked in a shorthanded rebound with exactly 10 minutes left for a 5-2 lead, ending Air Force goalie Billy Christopoulos’s night.
That three-goal lead was more than enough thanks to the play of freshman goalie Brian Wilson, who made 19 of his 40 saves and allowed only one goal during a third period mostly spend in the NU zone.
“(Wilson) has been outstanding for us,” Lammers said. “He has just really grown. I cannot say enough about him. He has been really good.”
Niagara and the Falcons exchanged scoring chances throughout a wild first period with both taking advantage of turnovers and defensive breakdowns to score five goals, three by the Eagles.
The second AFA goal developed after defenseman Phil Boje collected a Niagara turnover just inside the NU blue line and fired a hard shot that Brian Wilson was unable to control. Falcons senior winger Jordan Himley lifted in the rebound cut the Eagles lead to 3-2.
But Air Force would get no closer with Plouffe’s second goal of the night coming 5:43 into the third for a 6-2 lead, sending most fans to the arena exits.
AHC roundup
Mercyhurst 3, Sacred Heart 2 OT
Les Lancaster scored a power-play goal only 4:20 into overtime to lift the Lakers to the home win. The third Mercyhurst goal completed the comeback after the Pioneers took a 2-0 lead 12 minutes into the game.
Mercyhurst rallied behind goals by Jack Riley in the first and a shorthander by Taylor Best with 17 seconds left in regulation.
Bentley 6, AIC 2
Visiting Bentley pumped in four goals during the second half of the middle period, paced by a tally and assist for Matt Riggleman, to upend American International College.
Luke Santerno scored five minutes into the third to seal the win. Goalie Aidan Pelino made 31 saves for the Falcons.
Holy Cross 4, RIT 2
Holy Cross’ Mitch Collett assisted the winning goal by Brett Mulcahy with 1:29 left and added the empty-netter to propel the Crusaders to the road victory.
RIT had tied the game at 2-2 with 4:16 left on a tally by Abbott Girduckis.
Johnny Coughlin recorded a goal and assist for Holy Cross while Erik Brown did the same for the Tigers. Holy Cross goalie Paul Berrafato made 34 saves.
