BRIDGEPORT, Conn.— The Sacred Heart men's ice hockey team picked up their first home win of the season with a 4-3 victory over Niagara on Friday night at Webster Bank Arena. 

The Purple Eagles (1-8-2, 1-3-1 AHC) struck early with a shorthanded goal by Dan Plouffe as he intercepted a pass at the top of the blue line by the Pioneers for the breakaway goal and 1-0 lead. Sacred Heart (3-6-2, 2-4 AHC) came out firing in the second period as they outshot Niagara 12-7 in the period. Sophomore Stephen Hladin picked up his first career goal early in the second on the dish from freshman Zach Tsekos to tie it up 1-1. The rally continued as senior captain Evan Jasper found Tsekos from behind the net for the wide open shot past Purple Eagles goaltender Guillaume Theirien to give SHU the 2-1 lead. Niagara answered with five minutes to go as Plouffe recorded his second goal of the game as he tipped in a shot by Noah Delmas. Senior Justin Danforth added the Pioneers third and final power play goal at 17:55 in the second period on the lead pass from sophomore Liam Clare. 

Niagara responded in the beginning of the third period as Stanislav Dzakhov stole the puck from Clare and took it in for another Purple Eagles breakaway goal and the 3-3 tie. Sacred Heart struck the final cord as Jasper drove to the net and passed it off to freshman Austin McIlmurray for the chip in from left side of the goal and the 4-3 victory. 

Penalties played a huge role in this game as both teams combined for 23 infractions. Sacred Heart went 3-for-6 on the power play while Niagara went 0-for-4. Therien had 24 saves for the Purple Eagles, and sophomore Brett Magnus recorded 25 saves in goal for the Pioneers. 

The Pioneers will wrap up their season series with Niagara tomorrow at 2:00pm at Webster Bank Arena.  

First Period

- Jasper had a breakaway attempt saved by Therien early in the first period.

- Magnus made a great glove save on a shot by Dzakhov.

- Plouffe with the shorthanded goal to give Niagara the 1-0 lead.

- Vito Bavaro had two consecutive shots saved by Therien with six minutes to go in the period. 

Second Period

- Hladin recorded his first career goal on the quick assist from Tsekos to tie it at 1-1.

- Pioneers continued to rally as Jasper found Tsekos cutting to the net for the goal and 2-1 lead.

- Plouffe responded with the tip in on a shot by Delmas to tie it up at 15:24 in the period.

- Danforth responded with the third power play goal for SHU as he cut to the middle of the ice for an open shot.

Third Period

- Magnus made back-to-back stops on shots by Stephen Pietrobon and Noah Delmas.

- Dzakhov with the steal and breakaway goal to tie it at 3-3.

- Nylen had a strong slap shot from the blue line get knocked down by Therien late in the period.

- McIlmurray with the game winner on the assist from Jasper at 18:48 in regulation to give SHU the 4-3 win.