Chris Moran (in white) had two goals and an assist in Niagara's sweep of Sacred Heart last weekend.
Niagara goaltender Juliano Pagliero gave a new meaning to a New Year’s toast as he registered his third shutout of the season last weekend as the Purple Eagles started their second half with a sweep at Sacred Heart. Chris Moran and Vince Rocco each had two goals and an assist in the series. The Purps’ winning streak has now reached four games.
“It was tough in a rink like this,” coach Dave Burkholder told the Niagara Gazette. “We played well defensively and we got a big road win.”
Niagara travels to Cornell (fourth in this week’s INCH Power Rankings) for two games this weekend, and you may not want to take your eyes off the ice for fear of missing the goal of the game. Cornell’s Ben Scrivens is second in the nation in both goals against average (1.38) and save percentage (.947); Pagliero ranks 16th (2.08) and 12th (.930), respectively.
The Purple Eagles haven’t beaten the Big Red since the title game of the Syracuse Invitational in 2000, but three of the losses since that game were one-goal affairs, including a match last season in which Cornell scored to take the lead with three minutes remaining in regulation.
17 and Counting
Robert Morris has played 17 games this season and in each and every one of them, their opponent has scored first. That didn’t deter the Colonials last weekend as, for the third time this season, they took three points from an opponent, earning a win and a tie against American International on the Island.
Following RMU’s two prior three-point weekends, the Colonials spun out with losing streaks of two and four games, respectively. They’re banking on history not repeating itself as they jump right back into conference play with a trip to Alabama-Huntsville this weekend. The two-game set marks the second of three series between the two teams this season.
The Colonials, coincidentally, tied and won at home Oct. 31-Nov. 1. RMU pounded Charger goaltender Cameron Talbot with 72 shots in the two games. There was also scrum at the final horn of the second game, which could lead to emotions running high in this weekend’s series as well.
Alabama-Huntsville is fresh off its consolation game victory over Harvard at the Badger Showdown in Madison two weeks ago with Blake MacNicol seeing his first action in goal since November.
Darts and Hand Grenades
Heading into last weekend’s home-and-home series with North Dakota, Bemidji State had a 0-12-1 record against the Fighting Sioux as a Division I member.
In the first game in Bemidji, the Beavers held a 3-2 first-period lead but couldn’t make it stand up in a 4-3 loss. In Grand Forks the following night, Tyler Scofield scored a power-play marker midway through the third period to tie the game, but freshman Brett Hextall scored a power-play goal just 31 seconds into the overtime to secure the Sioux sweep.
The power play that carried over into the extra session was the result of a checking-from-behind call on BSU’s Brad Hunt with 59 seconds left in regulation. Senior goalie Orlando Alamano, in his first start since Oct. 25, and made 36 saves in net. He was also the goaltender of record in a 1-0 loss to North Dakota last season.
“I don’t now what to say right now … it’s a devastating loss,” coach Tom Serratore told the Bemidji Pioneer after Saturday’s defeat. “We played a wonderful third period and fought our way back into the game. It was a very hard way to lose.”
Bemidji State is off this week before traveling to Minnesota Duluth for two games Jan. 17-18.
