Colorado Springs, CO (Oct. 15, 2004) Despite staying within striking distance Union was unable to overtake Colorado College in men's hockey action Friday evening and dropped its season-opener 4-2 at World Arena in Colorado Springs, CO.  After falling behind 2-0 in the first period, the Dutchmen responded just over two minutes into the second to make it a one-goal game but could not find the offense to get any closer.  Union goaltender Kris Mayotte (Pittsburgh, PA) kept his team in the game with a 39 save performance, including several point-blank stops.

Union appeared a bit tentative out of the gate and Colorado College took advantage with a power play goal at 2:27 from Brett Sterling.  He received a pass from behind the net from Marty Sertich and beat Mayotte on the right side.  Two minutes later the Tigers had a chance to make it a two-goal game as they continued to force the puck in from behind the net, but the Dutchmen netminder made a sprawling save.

Union finally settled in towards the end of the period and produced a couple scoring chances, the best coming from Brian Kerr (Kirkland, QUE) who was unable to connect on a shot right in front of the net.  Colorado College extended the lead to two with an auspicious goal at 13:59.  Defender Brady Greco drove a centering pass from behind the Union goal that glanced off a Dutchmen defender and rolled into the back of the net. 

In the second period a more focused Union team came out and scored on the power play to make it a one-goal game.  Colorado College goalie Curtis McElhinney faced three consecutive shots right in front of his net.  Jonathan Poirier (St. Jerome, QUE) located the puck amidst the crowd and tucked it home.  Two minutes later Union had a chance to tie the game with a two-man breakaway but misfired on the shot and the puck was collected by the defense and sent up ice. 

Jordan Webb (Nepean, ONT) scored Union's second goal in the third period as another scrum formed in front of the Tigers net.  Webb took control of the puck and snuck it in on the right side before the net was knocked off its moorings. 

Both teams each converted on a power play.  Union committed nine penalties and was out shot 43-30 as they fall to 0-1-0 on the season. 

The two teams will wrap up their two-game series when they face off tomorrow at 7:05 p.m. local time, 9:05 p.m. Eastern.