Cotton Nets Two Short Handed Goals in Men's Ice Hockey 3-1 Victory Over Niagara

Saturday, October 26

Niagara Univ., N.Y. / Dwyer Arena

4:05 PM

Sacred Heart

2-3-1, 2-1-0AHA

Niagara

0-4-0, 0-2-0AHA

Team	1	2	3	F
Sacred Heart	1	1	1	3
Niagara	0	0	1	1

Cotton Nets Two Short Handed Goals in Men's Ice Hockey 3-1 Victory Over Niagara

10/26/2019 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey

Box Score

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y.- The Sacred Heart University Men's Ice Hockey team completed the two-game sweep of Atlantic Hockey rival Niagara this afternoon as the Pioneers defeated the Purple Eagles 3-1. This is the second straight year SHU has swept Niagara on the road. The Pioneers will return to action on Friday, Nov. 1 when SHU hosts Air Force. Puck-drop is set for 7:05 p.m.

First Period

The Purple Eagles would edge the Pioneers in shots on goal in the period as Niagara had 13 while SHU tallied 11 on goal.
The Pioneers would strike first in the game as senior Jason Cotton would tally his third goal of the season as he would record the team's first short-handed goal of the season at 1:32 in the period to give SHU a 1-0 lead. Assists would be awarded to senior Mike Lee and junior Matt Tugnutt.
Both sides would go 0-2 on the power-play in the opening period.
Sophomore goalie Josh Benson recorded 13 saves in the period on 13 shots faced.

Second Period

Niagara would once again be neck and neck with the Pioneers in shots on goal as the Purple Eagles tallied nine while SHU had eight.
SHU continued its strong attack in the period as Cotton fired his second goal of the game once again while the Pioneers were short-handed this time in the final seconds of the second period at 19:39 off assists by junior Alex Bates and senior Mike Lee to put the Pioneers ahead 2-0 heading into the third period.
Benson held strong in front of the net not allowing a single goal in the period as nine shots were fired at him.

Third Period

Niagara picked up the attack in the third period as the Purple Eagles tallied 12 shots on goal while holding SHU to just seven.
The Pioneers scored first in the period though as a goal by senior Austin McIlmurray at 3:28 while SHU was on the power-play put SHU ahead 3-0. Assists by Lee and first-year Braeden Tuck would aid in the Pioneers third goal of the game.
Niagara attempted to comeback as at 14:04 Ryan Cook would slip a goal passed Benson to tighten the SHU lead to 3-1.
But SHU's defense held strong and at the end of the game the Pioneers completed the sweep with a 3-1 victory.

Notes

Sophomore goalie Josh Benson would tally 33 saves in the game on 34 shots faced.
Senior co-captain Jason Cotton tallied two goals for two points in the game.
Senior Mike Lee tallied three assists for three points.
SHU would go 1-6 on the power-play while holding Niagara to going 0-6 on the man advantage.
SHU improves to 2-3-1 on the year and 2-1-0 in Atlantic Hockey play.
Niagara falls to 0-4-0 overall and 0-2-0 in conference play.