Powerful Niagara offense too much for Chargers

Jamie Gilliam, UAH Sports Information

Niagara University, New York - With an extra week of preparation the Chargers' defensive woes continued on Friday night, as the Alabama-Huntsville hockey squad dropped a 7-3 decision at College Hockey America foe Niagara at Dwyer Arena in Niagara University, New York. The Purple Eagles wasted little time in the contest scoring in the fourth minute of action with a power-play tally by Tyler Gotto. NU would then add on a pair of even-strengthed measures before the end of the first frame to take a 3-0 margin into the first intermission.

UAH sophomore center Tyler Hilbert (Okotoks, Alberta) provided a spark for the Chargers right out of the gate in the second period when he scored a mere 15 seconds into the stanza from Mike Salekin (Castlegar, British Columbia) and Josh Murray (Terrace, British Columbia) The lone Charger named to the all-tournament team in last month's Lightning College Hockey Classic, Hilbert's goal gave him his third in the last three games.

NU's Chris Moran made it a three-goal Purple Eagle margin again at 8:08 of the second slipping an unassisted tally past senior netminder Marc Narduzzi (Vancouver, British Columbia). UAH senior winger Grant Selinger (Regina, Saskatchewan) closed the gap to two goals again later in the second at 11:54 from freshman Cale Tanka (Stouffville, Ontario), who collected his first collegiate point.

The first minute of the final period doomed any hopes of a Charger comeback as the Purple Eagle high-octane offense struck twice in the first minute of action. Sophomore standout Les Reaney made it a 5-2 contest a power-play lamp lighter only 22 seconds into the third as he netted his 11th goal of the season. NU's Matt Caruana then made it a 6-2 contest only 34 seconds later.

Senior winger Steve Canter (St. Louis) pulled it back to a three-goal margin at 4:40 of the frame from Matt Sweazey (Toronto) and Brandon Roshko (Hamilton, Ontario) on the power play but that would be as close as UAH would come as Niagara's Sean Bentivoglio rounded out the scoring at 14:01 to make it a 7-3 game.

Narduzzi took the loss in net for UAH making 24 saves as the Chargers fall to 2-6-1 overall and 1-2-1 in CHA action. Allen Barton picked up the win in net for NU with a 36-save night as Niagara improves to 5-5-1 overall and 3-1-1 in the CHA.

The Chargers and Purple Eagles battle again on Saturday night at 6:05 p.m. in the “Empire State”.