Schenectady, NY (Jan. 7, 2005) Union's return to ECACHL play proved an unpleasant beginning to the second half of season play as they were shutout by No. 12 Vermont at home by a 4-0 score. It was the third time this season the Dutchmen have been shutout and the second time at Messa Rink.  With sole possession of first place in the league up for grabs Union fell short and as a result stumbled to 9-10-1 overall and 6-3 in league play while Vermont now sits atop the ECACHL at 6-1-2 and are 12-6-3 overall.

Vermont came after Union from the drop of the puck, outshooting them 15-3 in the first period. The Catamounts would finish with a 34-15 edge in shots. Things did not favor Union from the start with the Dutchmen taking the game's first penalty with an elbowing call to Phil McDavitt (Duxbury, MA) at 1:14 of the opening session.  Vermont registered three shots during the advantage with one hitting off the post.  Union managed a short handed opportunity during that time as Matt Vagvolgyi (Milford, CT) broke in on the Vermont zone and made a nice move to evade his defender.  The play was whistled offside though as Scott Seney (Silver Spring, MD) came in just ahead of his teammate. 

Mike Arcieri came through with his second goal of the season at 15:09 to put Vermont on the board.  Union goaltender Justin Mrazek (Regina, SASK) was screened on the play as Arcieri's fluttering shot from the point snuck into the net. The Catamounts struck again just over a minute later with Jeff Corey scoring his tenth goal of the season. Scott Misfud fired the puck from the point to the right of Mrazek, who sent the shot wide with his left blocker.  Misfud was alone in front of the net though to pick up the rebound and slam it home.

Union's misfortunes continued into the second period and would lead to Vermont's third goal. As the Catamounts sent the puck up ice Mrazek waited in goal to collect it. A miscommunication occurred and at the last second, with the opposition closing in, Vagvolgyi poked at the puck to redirect it away from the net only to have it slide past Mrazek and into the back of the net.

Vermont had a chance to extend the lead in the closing minutes of the second period following a penalty but would have that chance thwarted. Joey Gasparini raced out of the penalty box and collected the puck as he skated in on goal with a break away opportunity.  Mrazek made a spectacular save though, kicking the puck aside as Gasparini tried to go far post.

Things went from bad to worse for Union in the third period as frustration started to mount.  Three straight Dutchmen penalties made way for a five on three and led to Vermont's final tally.  Senior Joel Beal (Brantford, ONT) went to the penalty box first for tripping at 7:21.  Michael Beynon (Nepean, ONT) would join him 1:26 later for unsportsmanlike conduct.  The final infraction occurred at 9:18 with Vagvolgyi being given a five-minute major for hitting from behind and a 10-minute game misconduct. Kenny Macaulay came through for Vermont with the goal at 10:04 with a shot from the top of the Union zone that ricocheted off a Dutchmen defender and into goal.

Union did manage its best scoring chance in the third period at 7:17.  Junior Jonathan Poirier (St. Jerome, QUE) fired a shot in front of the net but Vermont goalie Joe Fallon was able to cover up the puck.

Mrazek made 30 saves in goal for Union but it was not enough.  He is now 4-6-0 on the season.  Fallon had 15 saves for his sixth win and fourth shutout of the season. The win was Vermont's first at Messa Rink in five tries. 

Union will regroup before hosting Dartmouth in their second league battle tomorrow night at 7:00 p.m.