Box Score

SCHNECTADY, N.Y. – Union (15-11-6, 8-6-4 ECACHL) scored three goals in the final 1:37 of the first period and added two in the third on its way to a 5-1 win over Yale (8-14-3, 6-10-2 ECACHL) at Messa Rink. Junior Olivier Bouchard (Quebec City, QUE) stepped up at an opportune time, leading the charge with three goals for his second hat trick of the season. The win extended Union's unbeaten streak to five games and was the 10th of the season at home.

What appeared to be an evenly played first period quickly changed direction in Union's favor when Bouchard scored his first goal on the power play at 18:23. Senior Sean Streich (Kimberley, BC) sent a pass down from the top of the right face-off circle that deflected off Bouchard's skate and trickled in at the far post past Yale goaltender Alec Richards. That goal jumpstarted the Dutchmen offense, who struck two more times in the period to take a 3-0 lead into the first intermission.

Freshman Brendan Milnamow (Wilton, CT) gave the Bulldogs little time to recover with Union's second goal at 19:18. Sophomore Torren Delforte (Shortsville, NY) sent a pass from behind the net up to Milnamow at the left face-off circle, setting up a blast that beat Richards high on his stick side. Union did not let up and came back 39 seconds later with its third goal of the period off a Yale turnover. Scott Brady (Sutton, MA) forced Robert Page to cough up the puck in the Bulldogs' zone between the face-off circles and sent a low slap shot past Richards on his right side.

Union goaltender Kris Mayotte (Pittsburgh, PA) kept Yale off the scoreboard through the first and second periods with what has become his typical outstanding play. In the first he denied Page on the doorstep at 12:55. Jeff Hristovski sent the puck down low to the back post from the left face-off circle. Mayotte read the play and reacted, sliding over to make a pad save. Less than three minutes later he stopped Joe Zappala on a breakaway opportunity after Union defenseman Michael Beynon (Nepean, ONT) lost an edge and turned the puck over in his own zone. In the second period Mayotte had Page's number again at 9:35, stopping a quick shot in front and then gloving Zappala's wrist shot in front at 11:20.

It took a power play opportunity for Yale to finally solve Mayotte at 7:56 of the third period and spoil the shutout bid. Michael Karwoski scored his fourth goal of the season, sneaking the puck under the netminder's left pad after taking a cross-ice pass at the far post from Zappala.

Bouchard answered back with two more goals for Union to wrap up the scoring. His second goal of the game came at 12:03 from Jonathan Poirier (St. Jerome, QUE) who sent a strike from behind the net for his second assist of the night. He had the second helper on Bouchard's first goal in the first period.

Bouchard completed the hat trick at 17:52 when he fired a wrist shot from the left face-off circle after taking a feed from Scott Seney (Silver Spring, MD). Union's offensive leader finished with three points for his fifth multi-point game of the season and ended a 12-game goal scoring drought. He also snapped a 24-game goal scoring drought in league play that extended back six games into last season. Bouchard's last goal in league play prior to tonight was back on Jan. 29, 2005 at Vermont.

Mayotte (15-10-5) made 28 saves for his 15th win of the season, tying former Union goaltender Trevor Koenig for the school record for Division I wins in a season. On the other end Richards (6-10-3) made 21 stops in the loss.

Yale outshot Union 29-26, including an 11-6 advantage in the third period.

The Dutchmen look to extend their unbeaten streak on the road next weekend and continue their bid for one of the top four spots in the league standings to receive a first round bye in the playoffs. They begin their trip at Quinnipiac on Friday, Feb. 17 at 7:00 p.m.