Schenectady, N.Y. (Oct. 14, 2005) Junior Olivier Bouchard (Quebec City, QUE) recorded his first career hat trick, including the game-winning goal, in a 5-2 home-opening win over Sacred Heart. All three of Bouchard's goals came on the power play. It was the first win of the season for the Dutchmen who improved to 1-2 while this was the Pioneers' first game of the season.

Union scored the first three goals of the game to make it 3-0 early in the second period. Jonathan Poirier (St. Jerome, QUE) struck first for Union with his first goal of the season at 1:30 of the first period for the early tally. Poirier stole the puck in the Sacred Heart zone from Noel Henck and skated in on goal. He faked left before coming back to his right and beating goalie Jason Smith as he tucked the puck inside the post. Sacred Heart had a chance to tie the game two minutes later when Union was whistled for the first penalty of the game but the Pioneers could only manage two shots with the extra man.

Bouchard followed up with a pair of power play goals to extend the advantage. His first came at 9:48 of the first period, tipping in his own rebound after taking an across ice pass to the right face-off circle from Lane Caffaro (Slave Lake, ALB). His second goal came at 2:23 of the second period. Sacred Heart's Pierre-Luc O'Brien was whistled for a slashing penalty with six seconds remaining in the first, setting up the power play opportunity. Bouchard cashed in on it when he tucked the puck in on the right side off a feed across the front of the goal from Michael Beynon (Nepean, ONT).

Bernie Chmiel converted on the power play for Sacred Heart to make it 3-1 at 6:06 of the second period. His shot from the top of the left face off circle snuck past Union goaltender Kris Mayotte (Pittsburgh, PA) on the opposite side. Rocco Molinaro set up the play with a feed from the right.

Bouchard's third goal of the night came at 6:14 of the third period to help Union regain the three-goal advantage. He knocked in a rebound that came off a shot from Beynon. Chris Connerty scored just over 20 seconds later for the Pioneers to make it 4-2.

Union captain Scott Seney (Silver Spring, MD) added an empty net goal at 19:11 to wrap things up.

Mayotte finished with 24 saves in goal for Union for the win while Smith stopped 33 shots on the other end.

Union finished 3-9 on the power play and Sacred Heart was 1-5.

The Dutchmen will look for their second win tomorrow when they host Connecticut at 7:00 p.m.