(Niagara University, N.Y.)- The SUNY Canton men’s ice hockey team dropped a narrow 2-1 decision to Niagara University Saturday afternoon at the Dwyer Center.

The 19th-ranked Roos dipped to 9-2 in the Eastern Collegiate Hockey League and 22-8 overall but they can win the regular season league championship and earn an automatic berth in the ACHA Division I national championship with a loss by the University of Buffalo on Saturday or a win over the University of Rochester next Saturday, Feb. 12 in their final regular season game at the Canton Pavilion.

There was no score in the first period and then all three goals were scored in the second period. The Purple Eagles went ahead 2-0 after Trevor Kenny and Carl Lehtola scored unassisted goals at the 4:05 mark and the 12:58 mark.

SUNY Canton trimmed the lead in half when Rob Liggio (Canton, N.Y.) connected on a power play goal from Darren Camp (Canton, N.Y.) and Garrett Rosenbaum (Charleston, S.C.) with 1:31 left in the second period.

SUNY Canton out shot the Purple Eagles for the second straight night, this time 31-24.

Jimmy Merrow (Plainsboro, N.J.) had 22 saves for the Roos and Patrick Jankowksi had 30.