NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. — Niagara scored the first three goals of the game and held on to top Miami 4-1 in non-conference hockey action Friday night at Dwyer Arena. John Waldron scored his sixth goal of the year for Miami (5-10-2, 0-7-1 NCHC), while Logan Neaton made 27 saves in net. Lars Rodne had a pair of goals to lead the Purple Eagles (7-10-1, 5-7-1 AHA).
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• 15:34 1st (Niagara 1-0) | The home team opened the scoring late in the first period, as Noah Carlin fired the puck from the left point off the end boards. It bounced directly to Olivier Gauthier, who fed a pass in front to Jack Richard for the first goal of the game.
• 16:18 1st (Niagara 2-0) | Niagara scored again less than a minute later, as Jay Ahearn continued to battle for a puck after Neaton stopped his initial shot attempt and finally forced it over the goal line. Shane Ott and Tyler Wallace picked up assists on the play.
• 13:17 2nd (Niagara 3-0) | The Purple Eagles extended their lead in the middle stanza, as Rodne and Gauthier combined for a give-and-go on a 2-on-0 rush. Rodne finished the play to give the hosts a three-goal lead, with Gauthier and Richard earning the assists.
• 6:11 3rd (Miami 3-1) | The RedHawks broke through in the third period, as Raimonds Vitolins used a nifty spin move to break free at the blue line. Vitolins dropped the puck off for a close-range Matthew Barbolini shot, and Waldron was waiting in front of the net to knock home the rebound and make it 3-1.
• 19:06 3rd (Niagara 4-1) | After the RedHawks came up empty on a power play midway through the period that could have cut the margin to a single goal, Niagara finished the scoring with an empty-net power-play tally in the final minute, as Rodne lit the lamp off passes from Ahearn and Jonathan Ziskie.

 
NOTES

• Ryan Sullivan played in his 100th career collegiate game.
• Waldron extended his point streak to four games.
• Barbolini picked up his team-leading 19th point of the season.
• Vitolins' assist was his 10th point of the year.
• Both teams finished with 31 shots on goal; Hampus Rydqvist led the RedHawks with five.
• Rihards Simanovičs had a career-high four blocked shots.

 
UP NEXT:
Miami and Niagara face off again Saturday, Dec. 30 at Dwyer Arena. Puck drop is set for 5 p.m.