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Matt Caruana |
DES MOINES, Iowa – The men’s hockey season came to an end in the College Hockey America semifinals with a 5-3 loss to Alabama-Huntsville, Saturday, in Des Moines, Iowa.
The Purple Eagles (18-13-6, 9-5-6 CHA) built a 3-1 lead midway through the second period, but gave up four-straight goals in the loss. Sophomore Vince Rocco (Woodbridge, Ont.) scored a goal and assisted on the other two Niagara tallies.
Niagara scored two goals in a two-minute span in the middle frame to take a 3-1 lead, but its momentum was short-lived. UAH scored a goal on the shift immediately following the Niagara scores to snatch it away. Two minutes later the game was tied after a turnover behind the net.
As the second period was coming to a close, Charger defender Mike Salekin found the back of the net for the game-winning goal with just 10 seconds remaining in the period. It was the senior’s second goal of the game. UAH scored a rebound goal in the third to close out the scoring.
Rocco started the scoring with a quick shot from a tough angle near the red line. The goal came just seconds after a power play had expired.
With the score knotted at 1-1 in the second, Rocco and junior Matt Caruana (Orono, Ont.) got on the offensive, dishing out a pair of assists in a two-minute span. Caruana sent the puck to Egor Mironov (Thornhill, Ont.) from his knees and the freshman quickly sent it past the Charger netminder.
Freshman forward Chris Moran (Buffalo, N.Y.) sent a one-timer in for a 3-1 lead. Rocco gave it to Caruana in the slot and he found Moran streaking towards the net.
With the win, Alabama-Huntsville became the first No. 5 seed to advance to the CHA Finals. The Chargers scored four consecutive goals for the second-straight game.
