Air Force Academy
Niagara
Niagara cruises past Air Force, 6-1
1/10/2003 12:00:00 AM | Hockey
Jan. 10, 2003
Niagara scored four goals in the first period and cruised to a 6-1 win over Air Force in a College Hockey America conference game Friday, Jan. 10, at the Cadet Ice Arena.
Air Force fell to 8-12-1 overall and 2-6-1 in the CHA. Niagara improved to 6-13-2 and 3-2-2 in the CHA.
The Purple Eagles lit the lamp in a hurry as Hannu Karru scored just 1:10 into the first period. Bernie Sigrist made the pass through the slot to the wide-open Karru on the back door. Five minutes later, Joe Tallari scored his 17th of the season on a wrap-around from Chris Welch and Barret Ehgoetz. Welch scored at 12:50 and Chris Sebastian added one at 13:18 for a 4-0 Niagara lead. Welch's came after a flurry in front while Sebastian's was on a breakaway.
After the fourth goal, Falcon goaltender Mike Polidor was pulled from the game. Polidor, who stopped five of the nine shots he faced, was replaced by freshman David Goodley. Goodley played the final 46 minutes and allowed two goals with 16 saves.
Niagara added two goals in the second period for a 6-0 advantage. Sigrist scored at 8:48 after teammate Doug Conley's clanged off the post. Karru scored his second of the game and sixth of the season on the power play at 14:31. Karru again was right in front of the net when the pass from Sigrist came out of the corner.
Air Force got on the board with 2:27 remaining when Scott Zwiers scored on the power play. Zwiers' eighth of the season came from Shane Saum and Brian Reaney. Saum and Zwiers were battling in front of the net and Zwiers jammed the puck past Niagara goaltender Jeff VanNynatten.
In the final minute, tempers flared as the teams were called for a combined nine penalties for 38 minutes.
Air Force out-shot Niagara in two of the three periods and 32-27 for the game. The Falcons were 1-for-4 on the power play while Niagara was 1-for-7. VanNynatten stopped 31 of the 32 shots he faced.
The same two teams conclude the CHA series on Saturday, Jan. 11, at 7:05 p.m. Mountain Time at the Cadet Ice Arena.
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