Storrs, CT (Jan. 2, 2005) Union rang in the New Year by picking up its first shutout of the season in a 4-0 win over Connecticut at the Freitas Ice Forum Sunday afternoon to begin the second half of its season.  Senior captain Jordan Webb (Nepean, ONT) became Union's all-time Division I leading scorer with an assist on the final goal of the game, giving him 105 career points as the Dutchmen improved to 8-9-1 overall.

Union came out firing as they held an 11-0 shot advantage through the first 11 minutes of the opening period. Connecticut did not record its first shot until midway through and then were able to record four straight. Union's Scott Seney (Silver Spring, MD) started up the scoring at 3:12 of the first period after taking a pass from Olivier Bouchard (Quebec City, QUE), who was behind the net, and beating Huskies goalie Scott Tomes to the far side.

Jonathan Poirier (St. Jerome, QUE) made it a two-goal lead in the second period with the Dutchmen on the power play, scoring his eighth goal of the season at 17:45. Poirier snuck a shot past Tomes on the left side, right in front of the net, after taking a pass from Joel Beal (Brantford, ONT) on the opposite wing. Before that Union had a couple earlier chances to extend its lead but Tomes was able to deny those shots.  Poirier had one of his chances denied at 12:10 when he sent a shot into the chest of Tomes during a 3 on 1 break. Jake Schwan (Clifton Park NY) came back two minutes later during a scramble in front of the Connecticut goal but his shot slid across the crease and was cleared up ice.

Union added two more goals in the third period to put the game out of reach. Sophomore Scott Brady (Sutton, MA) scored the Dutchmen's first short-handed goal of the season at 3:42. After collecting the puck in the neutral zone Brady showcased his speed, racing down the ice and faking left on Tomes before coming back to his right and beating the junior stick-side. 

Senior Joel Beal (Brantford, ONT) finished off the scoring with 44 seconds left in the game.  Beal took a pass to the left of the Connecticut goal from Webb, who was in between the face off circles, and sent a quick strike into goal before Tomes had a chance to react. 

Junior Kris Mayotte (Pittsburgh, PA) made 26 saves for Union to pick up the win.  Sophomore goaltender Dan Tatar (Queensbury, NY) replaced Mayotte in the final minutes of the game to preserve the shutout. 

Tomes made 37 saves in goal for Connecticut, who falls to 3-13-2 on the season.

Union outshot the Huskies 41-26 for the game.

Union gets back to league action when they host Vermont in the team's first home game in almost two months on Friday, January 7^th at 7:00 p.m.