WATERTOWN, Mass. – Niagara University scored four unanswered goals in the third period to take a 6-4 win over Bentley University in Atlantic Hockey play Friday night at Ryan Skating Arena.

In a wild game that featured 10 goals, three power play goals for the Purple Eagles and two short-handed for Bentley, and neither starting goalie finished the game. Niagara erased a 4-2 deficit in the third with two straight power play goals and two more in the final 5:15 to secure the win.

A short-handed goal by senior Jamie Nudy (West Chester, Pa./Choate Rosemary Hall) 3:17 into the final period gave the Falcons a 4-2 advantage, but just 35 seconds later Niagara's Ryan Murphy scored on the power play to make it a one goal game. That was the second time Niagara answered a short-handed goal by Bentley with one on the power play of its own, doing it for the first time in the second period.

With the score 4-3, the visitors knotted the game up with another power play tally, this time it was Robert Martini doing it at 7:02. That goal came against starter Kyle Rank (Islip, N.Y./Markham Waxers), who made 33 saves on the night, but was shaken up just prior to Martini's goal, only to stay in the game. However, Rank was pulled in favor of Branden Komm (Williamsville, N.Y./Northfield Mount Hermon) after Martini's goal.

Scott Arnold put the Purple Eagles in front with 5:15 remaining with his second of the game, their first lead of the game, and Marc Zanette added an empty-netter with 17 seconds left to wrap it up.

Bentley led 2-0 in this contest, getting a goal from senior Ryan Kayfes (Maple Grove, Minn./Fairbanks Ice Dogs) at 9:23 of the first, and a power play tally from senior Mike Switzer (Calgary, Alberta/Olds Grizzlys) at 2:13 of the second. It was Switzer's second of the season, coming after he took a pass from junior Brett Hartung (Tallahassee, Fla./Wichita Falls Wildcats) in the high slot. Switzer's brother, Brett, had the secondary assist.

Arnold's first of the evening at 9:22 of the second got Niagara on the board and made it a 2-1 game, only for Bentley to go back up by two on a short-handed marker by senior Aaron Stonacek (Basehor, Kan./Fairbanks Ice Dogs) at 18:30, scoring off a big rebound from a Hartung shot. But, still on the power play, Niagara scored just 10 seconds later off the stick of Jeff Hannan to make it 3-2.

Backup goalie Chris Noonan got the win for the Purple Eagles, who took over for starter Cody Campbell after Nudy's goal. Komm took the loss for the Falcons.

Niagara improves to 4-5-4 overall and 3-2-3 in Atlantic Hockey, and the Falcons drop to 4-8-2 and 4-3-1. Game two of the series is Saturday night at 7:05 p.m.