After a Split Weekend, Eagles Look to the Future

By: Michelle Cashman

Niagara’s final two games of the season were marked by a triumphant comeback and a devastating loss. Friday’s game against Cortland State University of New York and Saturday’s game against Syracuse University were both challenging games for the Eagles. Both teams brought a determination to throw Niagara off of their winning streak but only Syracuse University would succeed.

In the first game of the weekend, Niagara got off to a shaky start. Cortland took full control of the game and was skating laps around Niagara. It was easy to tell that for the first two periods something was off in Niagara’s game. Niagara managed to tie up the game twice in the first period but by the start of the third period Niagara was losing 5 – 3 and it did not seem they would be able to pull this game off. It was one resounding goal early in the third period which turned the entire game around for Niagara. The Eagles picked up five goals in fifteen minutes to win the game 8 – 5. This style of play is very common for Niagara; all it takes is one big play to set the entire team in motion.

Ten eagles would pick up points for their efforts in Friday’s game. Nick Gollaher, Marc Degiuilio and Sean Carmack would each pick up two goals, with Joe Baldinelli and Joseph Finelli following with one goal apiece. Joe Baldinelli also tied with Kevin Morrison, who has been week-to-week with an upper body injury, with three assists. Nick Gollaher and Trevor Kenney would each gain two assists, and Tom Mooradian, Joey Chiomastro, Ryan Hughes, and Marc Degiuilio would all add one assist to their records. This comeback win truly shows the power and determination of these Purple Eagles.

The Purple Eagles had the second longest active winning streak in the nation before their matchup with Syracuse University. With the final game of the season comes extreme pressure to succeed, every man on the team wants to end the regular season on a high note. Unfortunately, this would not be the case for Niagara. Both teams started off extremely assertive but neither team would score until the second period. Niagara’s first goal came from Joseph Finelli which tied the game 1 – 1. Syracuse would go on to score two more goals in the first half of the third period, but the Purple Eagles rallied and knocked in two goals, one by Trevor Kenney and the second by Kevin Morrison, which brought the game 2 – 3 with two minutes remaining. Unfortunately for the Eagles who took out goalie Dane Wakefield in order to have an extra man on the ice, Syracuse managed to break through and score on an open net in the final seconds of the game. It was a heartbreaking loss for Niagara since as of late they’ve played at their peak. 

Nick Gollaher, Joey Chiomastro, Joe Baldinelli, and Marc Degiuilio each picked up an extra point for assists and Patrick Roth would add two points for his assists on goal. For the six senior Eagles, Sean Carmack, Nick Gollaher, Michael Playfair, Kevin Zola, Jeff Osler, and Dan Fitzgerald, their final regular season game at Niagara may have been a bust but as a whole their Purple Eagle careers have been anything but weak. Now, Niagara is looking towards the future and a possible ECHL title as they head to Rochester, NY for the playoffs in two weeks.