LEWISTON, N.Y. – Senior goaltender Bryan Worosz posted 27 saves and Canisius College tallied three goals in the second period to pull away from host Niagara University on the way to a 5-2 victory in non-conference NCAA Division I hockey action Saturday night in front of a sellout crowd of 1,800 at Dwyer Arena. The win is Canisius’ first victory in Dwyer

Arena and improves the Griffs overall record to 9-9-3. Niagara falls to 7-12-0 on the season.

Niagara opened the scoring just 3:34 into the game on a breakaway goal by Sean Bentivoglio. Ryan Gale fed Bentivoglio with a perfect pass through the neutral zone and Bentivoglio beat Worosz for an early 1-0 Purple Eagle lead. Canisius would rally with four unanswered goals, the first tying the score at a goal apiece at the 7:18 mark of the opening period. Junior Andrew Dawe’s shot from the right face-off circle was kicked aside by Niagara goaltender Scott Mollison, but senior Fred Coccimiglio grabbed the loose puck and beat Mollison for a 1-1 score after 20 minutes of action.

Canisius would own the next 20 minutes, dominated the Purple Eagles from end to end during the second period. The Blue and Gold scored three goals in a span of 9:01 to put the game in firm control of the visitors. Senior James LeCuyer picked up his fourth marker of the season at the 7:02 mark

on a puck-handling gaff by Mollison. The Niagara netminder attempted to clear the puck from the slot, but put the puck directly on the stick of LeCuyer, who promptly put the puck into the open net for a 2-1 lead. Freshman Joel Kitchen picked up his team-leading ninth goal of the season just 2:34 later, scoring on a two-on-one break with a shot that beat Mollison to the top left corner. Junior Chris Angelo would scored a goal in his second straight game, beating Mollison with 3:57 remaining in the period with a shot from the left face-off circle as Mollison was screened by a passing Ryan Corcoran, giving Canisius a 4-1 lead after two periods of play.

Niagara would make a game of the third period, scoring at the 12:09 mark on a goal by Matt Caruana, a slap shot from the right side that beat Worosz low and cutting the Canisius lead to 4-2. The Griffs would hold on for the victory, sealing the win with an empty-net goal by freshman Mike

Ruberto with 1:14 remaining in the game.

Sophomore Michael Cohen was credited with two assists on the evening, while Kitchen recorded his fourth game-winning goal of the season, ranking him second in the nation in that category. Mollison posted 21 saves for the Purple Eagles, while Niagara’s leading scorer Barret Ehgoetz was held

without a point and had his five-game point streak snapped at the hands of the Golden Griffins.

Canisius returns to action Friday, Jan. 14, against Atlantic Hockey foe American International College at the Buffalo State Sports Arena. Game time is set for 3 p.m.