Army West Point Athletics
Friday, March 7
Niagara Falls, NY
7:00 PM
Army West Point
15-17-2
3
at
2
#4 Niagara University
17-15-3
1
2
3
OT 1
OT 2
F
Army West Point
0
1
1
0
1
3
Niagara
1
1
0
0
0
2
Photo by: James P. McCoy
Hockey Takes Double Overtime Thriller in Game One of AHA Quarterfinals Over Niagara
March 07, 2025 | Hockey
NIAGARA UNIV., NY – Fifth-seeded Army West Point hockey (15-17-2, 14-10-2 Atlantic Hockey America) used a double overtime winner from Mac Gadowsky to take down No. 4 Niagara (17-15-3, 15-9-2 Atlantic Hockey America) in game one of the AHA Quarterfinals from Dwyer Arena on Friday night.
In what was the 4th-longest game in Atlantic Hockey America history, the Black Knights converted on their ninth power play of the night to claim the victory after beginning 0-for-8 on the man advantage.
Barron Woodring provided the assist to Gadowsky on the goal with a push pass back across goal after Gadowsky had slotted a pass his way.
Plebes Ben Ivey and Adam Marshall also logged goals for the Black Knights while plebe goaltender JJ Cataldo made a career-high 48 saves in net for the Black Knights including 15 in both overtime frames.
Niagara got out on the front foot, scoring on its first power play opportunity of the game through Tyler Wallace at the 11:12 mark of the first period. Army was forced to the penalty kill immediately after conceding, getting the kil the second time around.
Soon after, the Purple Eagles found themselves with two men in the box as the Black Knights were given a minute with a five-on-three. Army was unable to capitalize on the opportunity, and the teams went into the first intermission with Niagara leading 1-0.
The Black Knights evened the score 5:40 into the second period after a successful break. Brent Keefer centered a puck to a charging Nils Forselius who laid it off to Ben Ivey who slotted home his 6th tally of the season.
Niagara responded just three minutes later, scoring another girl at even strength with Glebs Prohorenkovs from behind the net finding Jay Ahearn at the doorstep to put the home side back ahead at 2-1.
Army outshot Niagara 16-11 in the period, but the Purple Eagles took a one-goal lead into the third period.
The Black Knights kept the pressure on in the third looking for the equalizing goal, and it came less than four minutes in as Adam Marshall fired a quick shot from the right circle that caught Niagara off guard to tie the game up at two. Army had opportunities down the stretch including a power play in the final six minutes, but Niagara got its fifth consecutive kil of the night to force the game into overtime. The Black Knights held a 16-9 shot advantage in the third.
Army saw a pair of power play chances in the first overtime but were unable to beat Pierce Charleson in net for Niagara, who made 64 total saves, as the Black Knights penalty kill was then forced into action late in the period to successfully to force the game into a second overtime.
The power plays continued to come for Army, who were unsuccessful in their 8th attempt on the man-advantage, taking a penalty of their own, before yet another Niagara player was penalized leading to a four-on-three with just under six minutes to go.
Quickly into the four-on-three, Forselius laid off to Gadowsky who slid a pass to Woodring across the goal and Woodring rushed a pass right back to Gadowsky who put home the game-winning goal into the empty net at the 94:49 mark of the game.
The game marked the second-longest postseason game in Army's history in the Division I era and the third to go into a second overtime. It is the first game in which Army has won when going into a second overtime.
The two sides will return tomorrow at 7:00 p.m. as the Black Knights will look to finish off the series in two games.
In what was the 4th-longest game in Atlantic Hockey America history, the Black Knights converted on their ninth power play of the night to claim the victory after beginning 0-for-8 on the man advantage.
Barron Woodring provided the assist to Gadowsky on the goal with a push pass back across goal after Gadowsky had slotted a pass his way.
Plebes Ben Ivey and Adam Marshall also logged goals for the Black Knights while plebe goaltender JJ Cataldo made a career-high 48 saves in net for the Black Knights including 15 in both overtime frames.
Niagara got out on the front foot, scoring on its first power play opportunity of the game through Tyler Wallace at the 11:12 mark of the first period. Army was forced to the penalty kill immediately after conceding, getting the kil the second time around.
Soon after, the Purple Eagles found themselves with two men in the box as the Black Knights were given a minute with a five-on-three. Army was unable to capitalize on the opportunity, and the teams went into the first intermission with Niagara leading 1-0.
The Black Knights evened the score 5:40 into the second period after a successful break. Brent Keefer centered a puck to a charging Nils Forselius who laid it off to Ben Ivey who slotted home his 6th tally of the season.
Niagara responded just three minutes later, scoring another girl at even strength with Glebs Prohorenkovs from behind the net finding Jay Ahearn at the doorstep to put the home side back ahead at 2-1.
Army outshot Niagara 16-11 in the period, but the Purple Eagles took a one-goal lead into the third period.
The Black Knights kept the pressure on in the third looking for the equalizing goal, and it came less than four minutes in as Adam Marshall fired a quick shot from the right circle that caught Niagara off guard to tie the game up at two. Army had opportunities down the stretch including a power play in the final six minutes, but Niagara got its fifth consecutive kil of the night to force the game into overtime. The Black Knights held a 16-9 shot advantage in the third.
Army saw a pair of power play chances in the first overtime but were unable to beat Pierce Charleson in net for Niagara, who made 64 total saves, as the Black Knights penalty kill was then forced into action late in the period to successfully to force the game into a second overtime.
The power plays continued to come for Army, who were unsuccessful in their 8th attempt on the man-advantage, taking a penalty of their own, before yet another Niagara player was penalized leading to a four-on-three with just under six minutes to go.
Quickly into the four-on-three, Forselius laid off to Gadowsky who slid a pass to Woodring across the goal and Woodring rushed a pass right back to Gadowsky who put home the game-winning goal into the empty net at the 94:49 mark of the game.
The game marked the second-longest postseason game in Army's history in the Division I era and the third to go into a second overtime. It is the first game in which Army has won when going into a second overtime.
The two sides will return tomorrow at 7:00 p.m. as the Black Knights will look to finish off the series in two games.
Team Stats
AWP
NIA
Shots
67
50
PPG
1
1
SHG
0
0
Penalties
5
10
Penalty Mins
10
20
Faceoffs Won
46
46
Game Leaders
+/-
1
Goals
0
Sh
2
A
2
+/-
0
Goals
0
Sh
2
A
2
+/-
0
Goals
1
Sh
10
A
0
+/-
1
Goals
1
Sh
8
A
0
Players Mentioned
G
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