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 Mark Nebus scored Wayne State's lone marker in a 4-1 setback at Niagara. |
Feb. 6, 2004
Niagara, N.Y. - The Wayne State University men's hockey team (6-17-2, 2-11-0 CHA) returned to the ice for a game for the first time since Jan. 24, but suffered a 4-1 loss at Niagara University (14-10-3, 9-2-0 CHA) Friday night. All five goals were scored at the same end of the ice.
The Purple Eagles stormed out of the gates outshooting WSU 20-6 in the opening period. NU broke the scoreless tie with 7:57 remaining in the first period when Barret Ehgoetz scored his team-leading 19th goal of the season. His team-best seventh man-advantage marker of the year was assisted by Justin Cross and Bryan Mills. The first goal of the contest came nine seconds after a penalty to Billy Collins and marked the fourth consecutive game and eighth time in the last nine matches that the Warriors had allowed a power-play goal.
NU increased its lead to 2-0 with four seconds remaining in the opening stanza when Aaron Clarke netted his fourth of the season.
In the middle period, WSU outshot the hosts 15-7 and scored the lone goal. Freshman Mark Nebus (South Lyon, Mich./Texas Tornado) scored his first collegiate power-play goal and third of the season off assists from Nate Higgins (Calgary, Alb./Green Bay Gamblers) and Billy Collins (Enderby, B.C./Prince George Spruce Kings). It was Nebus' first game since scoring Jan. 3 at Denver (he missed six consecutive games with an injury). He has three goals in his last five games played. The assist increases Higgins' team-leading total to 11, while the helper was the first in 2004 for Collins.
Niagara scored a power-play goal 1:06 into the third period off the stick of Andrew Lackner and Ehgoetz, the nation's third-leading scorer in terms of points per game, added an even-strength goal at the 6:17 mark.
WSU sophomore netminder Matt Kelly (Hull, Mass./Topeka Scarecrows) was credited with 31 saves, while Niagara's Jeff VanNynatten turned aside 28 Warrior shots. Wayne State scored one power-play goal in three chances, with the Purple Eagles netting two man-advantage markers in four opportunities. It was the third straight game WSU had allowed two power-play goals in a contest.
The teams conclude the weekend series with a 7:05 p.m. face-off on Saturday at NU's Dwyer Arena.
