ANN ARBOR, MI. – Two freshmen scored their first career goals at Niagara for the Purple Eagles ice hockey team, but an early deficit was too much to overcome at 12th-ranked Michigan. Niagara fell behind 3-0 after one period and went on to fall 7-3 Friday night at Yost Ice Arena.
Tanner Lomsnes picked up his first goal of the season and added an assist in the loss, while Stephen Pietrobon added two assists. Niko Kovachis earned the first goal of his Niagara career as well, and Stanislav Dzakhov also tallied to round out the Purple Eagles’ scoring. Joe O’Brien surrendered three goals on 11 shots in the first period, and Guillaume Therien stopped 33 of 37 shots in relief.
“I thought Tanner played a very complete game and was happy to see him get his first collegiate points,” head coach Dave Burkholder said. “We certainly got Michigan’s ‘A’ game tonight. They looked like a team should with 12 NHL draft picks in their lineup.”
Niagara kept pace with Michigan in the shot totals through the first period, trailing 14-12, but the Wolverines got the better results on the score board. O’Brien opened the game with seven saves in the first five minutes, but then surrendered goals on three of his next four shots faced. Kyle Connor opened the scoring at the 7:05 mark with a low shot that trickled past O’Brien, and Justin Selman deflected a rebound home before Connor tallied his second just 51 seconds later.
Therien returned to action after that third goal and made three saves to keep Niagara within three to close the first period. Cooper Marody and Tyler Motte pushed the Michigan lead to 5-0 in the second before Lomsnes got Niagara on the board.
An errant pass by Michigan’s Tony Calderone rung around the boards to Pietrobon, who found himself on a two-on-one with Lomsnes. Pietrobon’s shot was originally saved by Michigan goaltender Steve Racine, but the rebound kicked over to Lomsnes. The freshman initially directed the puck with his leg, but then swatted the puck into the open net for the first goal and point of his Niagara career.
Kovachis was the next to score his first collegiate goal. Early in the third period, Pietrobon chipped a puck to Nick Farmer along the boards. Farmer set up Kovachis for a slap shot from the point, and the freshman beat Racine over the glove to get Niagara back within three goals.
Michigan was quick to respond, as Tony Calderone and Zach Werenski tallied to put the Wolverines up 7-2. Niagara closed the scoring as Lomsnes added his second point of the night, finding Stanislav Dzakhov alone in the slot for his first goal of the season with 7:34 to play. Niagara was unable to cut the lead any lower than four, and the Wolverines concluded the night with a 7-3 win.
Having played the seventh-toughest schedule of any team in college hockey, Niagara now sits at 0-6-2. The Purple Eagles continue their road trip in Michigan Saturday night with an exhibition against the USA National Development team. The game will be broadcast on 1340 AM WLVL, and opening faceoff is set for 7:00 p.m.
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