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 Junior Chris Vail scored late in the second period to tie the game at two. |
Feb. 21, 2003
Niagara University, N.Y. - The Wayne State University men's hockey team lost its first game to Niagara Friday night, 3-2 OT, snapping an 11-game unbeaten streak (10-0-1) against the Purple Eagles.
NU grabbed a 1-0 lead 4:29 into the contest on Bernie Sigrist's 10th goal of the season off an assist from Chris Welch.
The Warriors battled back to tie the game on a Derek MacKay (Sault Ste. Marie, Ont./Soo Thunderbirds) power-play goal with five minutes remaining in the opening stanza. MacKay's ninth of the campaign was assisted by Tyler Kindle (Portage, Mich./Bozeman Icedogs) and Dustin Kingston (Spencerville, Ont./Brockville Braves). MacKay now has goals in back-to-back games for the third time this season, while Kindle has an assist in eight of the last 11 contests.
WSU held a 15-5 advantage in shots on goal in the first period.
The hosts again took a one-goal lead as Brian Hartman netted his third of the year during a four-on-three Niagara power play. The Purple Eagles second goal of the game came with 4:11 left in the second period.
Wayne State again rallied to tie the game. This time junior Chris Vail (Nashua, N.H./Vernon Vipers) scored a man-advantage marker with 2:37 remaining in the middle frame off an assist from Nathan Rosychuk (Athabasca, Alb.) and Marc St. Jean (Orleans, Ont./Hawkesbury Hawks). Vail's fifth of the season and third in the last eight games gave the Warriors two power-play goals in a game for the 10th time this season. Rosychuk ended a season-long four-game pointless streak, while St. Jean now has six points in the last six games.
The third period was scoreless despite Niagara holding an 11-7 advantage in shots on goal.
In the overtime, Niagara's leading goal-scorer Joe Tallari scored off a face-off 2:02 into the extra session.
WSU goalie David Guerrera (St. Leonard, Que./Estevan Bruins) made 29 saves including 14 in the second period. Niagara netminder Rob Bonk was credited with 31 saves. Wayne State scored two power-play goals in three chances, while holding the Purple Eagles to one man-advantage marker in three opportunities.
The Warriors fall to 14-15-2 overall, 7-6-2 in College Hockey America and four points behind second place Niagara, who improves to 12-15-4 overall and 8-3-4 in the league. The teams conclude the weekend series with a 7:05 p.m. face-off on Saturday.
