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 Jason Baclig extended his point-scoring streak to five games with a goal on Friday. |
Jan. 26, 2007
NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. - The Wayne State men's hockey team was defeated, 4-2, at 16th-ranked Niagara in conference play on Friday night.
Nate Higgins (Calgary, Alb./Green Bay Gamblers) and Jason Baclig (Leamington, Ont./Leamington Flyers) scored for Wayne State, but Niagara's Ted Cook had a pair of power-play goals including the game-winner in the second period to help the Purple Eagles improve to 10-0-1 at Dwyer Arena this season.
Cook, who entered Friday's contest leading the nation with 23 goals and 13 power-play tallies, added to those totals at the 5:35 mark of the opening period on a 5-on-3 situation. Pat Oliveto and Chris Moran worked the puck around to Cook, who was open down low to the right of Brett Bothwell (Red Deer, Alb./Yorkton Terriers) and able to fire a low wrist shot just inside the far post.
Sean Bentivoglio nearly made it a 2-0 game midway through the first period on a breakaway, but Bothwell came up with a key save and ultimately the Warriors went into the locker room down by only a goal.
Just under two minutes into the middle stanza, freshman Jared Katz (St. Clair Shores, Mich./Baystate Breakers) created a turnover in the Niagara zone and found Higgins between the faceoff circles, as the senior forward fired a wrist shot over the glove of goaltender Juliano Pagliero to tie the score.
Derek Bachynski (Belle River, Ont./Leamington Flyers) and Baclig put together a nice give-and-go play at the 7:16 mark which saw Baclig skate down the left wing and put a low shot just inside the post to grant Wayne State a 2-1 lead. Mark Nebus (South Lyon, Mich./Texas Tornado) also assisted on the play, giving him a point in seven of his last eight games. Baclig and Bachynski, meanwhile, extended their point streaks to five and four games, respectively.
The advantage would last less than two minutes, however, as Ryan Annesley tapped in a backhand from the top of the crease from Les Reaney and Moran.
The deciding goal came at 14:42, as Cook netted his second power-play tally in similar fashion to his first. Pat Oliveto sent a pass from the blue line down low to Reaney, who found Cook across the crease for a one-timer.
Matt Caruana added an insurance goal for the Purple Eagles, collecting a rebound off a blocked shot from Bentivolgio. Cook had the second assist, his third point of the night.
Wayne State outshot Niagara, 39-20, including a 21-9 mark in the third period, but was held scoreless in eight power-play opportunities.
Pagliero made 37 saves for his sixth win in his last seven starts, while Bothwell had 16 saves for the Warriors.
Wayne State and Niagara will meet again tomorrow night at 7:00 p.m., which will be broadcast on WDTK 1400 AM and online at www.wdtkam.com.
