(Niagara University, N.Y.)- Eric Richard (St.-Hubert, Quebec) netted a pair of goals leading the Roos past Niagara University 4-2 Friday night in an Eastern Collegiate Hockey League and ACHA Division I contest at Dwyer Arena.

The Roos, ranked 19th in ACHA Division I, have won four out of their last five games and improved their record to a league-best 9-1 and 22-7 overall. The two teams square off one more time Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m.

The visiting Roos quickly jumped on top 1-0 just 2:39 into the game when Richard scored his first goal. Niagara tied the game a mere 21 seconds later but the Roos then swung the momentum back in their favor with two quick tallies in the final two minutes of the first period.

Eric Cook (Cary, N.C.) scored from Terry Bradford (Londonderry, N.H.) and John Payne (Port Moody, B.C.) at the 18:12 mark and then Dan Cibelli (Liverpool, N.Y.) scored from linemate Chris Giczewski (Fountain Valley, N.Y.) with 16 seconds on the clock and the Roos took a 3-1 lead into the locker room.

Richard capped off the Roos’ scoring banging in a short-handed goal off an assist from Garrett Rosenbaum (Charleston, S.C.) in the second period. Niagara got one back later in the second stanza but the Roos didn’t allow them to get any closer.

SUNY Canton nearly doubled up the Purple Eagles on the shot chart as they fired 40 on goal and held Niagara to 22, 20 that were stopped by senior Jimmy Merrow (Plainsboro, N.J.), who won his 11th game of the season.

Patrick Jankowski had 36 saves for Niagara and Marc Diqiuilio and Erik McKown each scored a goal.