Schenectady, N.Y. – Union (10-8-3, 3-3-1 ECACHL) remained unbeaten at home as they got back into ECACHL play with a 1-1 draw against #13 Harvard (10-6-2, 7-5-1). Freshman T.J. Fox (Oswego, NY) broke a scoreless tie with less than five minutes to play in regulation. The lead did not last long though as Harvard responded 53 seconds later to send the game into overtime. Strong goaltending on both ends carried over into the extra session and held the score unchanged the rest of the way. The Dutchmen are now 6-0-3 on the season at Messa Rink and snapped an eight-game winless streak against the Crimson.

 

Scoring chances were limited in the first period as the team's combined for just nine shots on goal. Union held the slight 5-4 advantage. Harvard threatened first at 8:05 with a shot from Mike Taylor. He took a lead pass from Kevin Du and fired a shot on goal. Senior Kris Mayotte (Pittsburgh, PA) knocked the puck down and pounced on it to end the rush.

 

Union came back and tested Harvard goalie John Daigneau later in the period. Jonathan Poirier (St. Jerome, QUE) had his close range shot kicked aside at 10:45 before Olivier Bouchard (Quebec City, QUE) was denied on a wraparound chance at 16:32.

 

In the second period Harvard came out in the first four minutes and hit the post on two attempts. Dan Murphy hit his shot in front off the left iron at 1:39 after a shot by Jon Pelle hit the end boards and bounced out to Murphy's stick. Two minutes later Paul Dufault chimed in from the same spot.

 

Later in the second Mayotte fought off back-to-back shots right in front of the net at 7:13 and followed the puck through traffic to smother a Crimson chance at 16:57.

 

This time it was Union who tested Daigneau early in the third period. The netminder saved three consecutive shots in front on the power play. Jason Visser (Mississauga, ONT) started the rush with a backhand shot. Torren Delforte (Shortsville, NY) and Poirier crashed in to pick up rebound chances but all were denied.

 

On the other end Mayotte refused to concede the first goal with a save at 8:07. He got his glove on a one-timer by Ryan Maki but could not hold on to the puck. As it rolled toward goal Mayotte fell back and covered the shot before it crossed the goal line.

 

Fox finally solved Daigneau with his seventh goal of the season at 15:20. Lane Caffaro (Slave Lake, ALB) fed the puck up ice to Augie DiMarzo (West Haven, CT) on the rush. DiMarzo skated in on the right and sent a pass across the crease to Fox who beat his man and snipped in a high shot on the left side.

 

Union had little time to celebrate as Alex Meintel came back with a turnaround shot at 16:13. He took a pass from Peter Hafner at the point and shot the puck through traffic and past Mayotte.

 

In overtime Union had two chances at goal. At 2:06 DiMarzo sent another pass across the crease from the right side to Bouchard. This time Daigneau had a beat on the puck and followed it across, stopping Bouchard on the doorstep.        

 

Hafner also had a chance to end the game for Harvard with 37 seconds left in the extra session. His shot was headed on goal after glancing off Mayotte's glove but the netminder reached back and covered the puck.

 

Mayotte finished with 25 saves while Daigneau had 23. Harvard held a slight 26-24 advantage in shots.

 

Union will look to extend its unbeaten streak to three games when they face Dartmouth tomorrow at 7:00 p.m.