WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. Junior Austin Orszulak (Springfield, Mass.)netted a pair of third period goals, but it was not enough as American International College fell to Niagara Univdersity, 4-3, in Atlantic Hockey Conference action this afternoon from the Olympia Ice Center.

With the loss, AIC drops to 5-22-2 over and 5-16-2 in conference action while the Purple Eagles improve to 5-20-3 on the year and move into a tie for tenth place with the Jackets at 5-15-2 in Atlantic Hockey play.

Niagara opened the scoring quick in the first period as sophomore Derian Plouffe (Shawville, Que.) skated through the slot and sent a wrist shot over the left shoulder of sophomore Alex Murray (Burlington, Ont.) for the 1-0 edge at 1:48.

Sophomore Stanslav Dzakhov (Vladikavkaz, Russia)later pushed things to a two-goal margin for the Purple Eagles as he was the beneficiary of a defensive zone turnover by AIC resulting in a two-on-zero breakaway as he lit the lamp off a pass from freshman Tanner Lomsnes (Red Deer, Alb.) at 16:44.

Niagara then used the man-advantage to grab a 3-0 lead early in the second period as freshman Johnny Curran (Niagara Falls, Ont.) scored his first collegiate goal with a rebound shot into an open net at 2:15 of the middle frame.

The Yellow Jackets then came back with great play by their fourth line as sophomore Bailey More (Laytonsville, Md.) and freshman Luke Rodgers (Clarkston, Mich.) set up senior David Gandara (Canyon Lake, Calif.) for a nifty back hand spin around score out front at 5:16 for the 3-1 score.

Niagara, however, came right back just 34 ticks later as senior Matt Dineen (Newmarket, Ont.) flicked a wrist-shot on net that got through a good screen out front for the 4-1 score.

AIC came out of the second intermission determined for a comeback and it paid off in their first shift as freshman Johnny Mueller (St. Louis, Mo.) fired a shot from the right point that was redirected out front for the score by Orszulak at 36 seconds of the final frame.

Orszulak then inched AIC even closer with a snipe from the left dot at 15:44 to make the score 4-3, but that was as close as they got as the Purple Eagles stiffened their defense to hang on for the victory and the sweep.

AIC outshot their opponents 37-32 in the game, but went 0-for-2 on the power-play while Niagara was 1-for-2 with the man-advantage.

The Jackets have a quick turn-around as they play host to UMass-Amherst at the MassMutual Center on Tuesday with a 7:05 p.m. puck drop.