SCHENECTADY, NY – Union (16-16-6) came up on the short end of an epic men's college hockey battle in a 3-2 five overtime loss at home against Yale (10-18-3) in the second game of the ECACHL first round playoffs. David Meckler sent the Bulldogs to the quarterfinals when he tipped in a Zach Mayer shot 1:35 into the decisive OT period for a short-handed goal, while also ending the season for the Dutchmen. The game, which ended at 1:10 a.m. on Sunday morning after 141 minutes and 35 seconds, surpassed the NCAA record of 129:30 set on March 8, 1997 when Colorado College defeated Wisconsin, 1-0, in the second game of the WCHA first round playoffs. The game also bested the ECACHL mark of 121:05 set on March 14, 2003 when Colgate beat Dartmouth, 4-3, in game one of the quarterfinals. Union senior Kris Mayotte (Pittsburgh, PA) left an indelible mark in his final game, making 58 saves in goal.  

Union got on the board with a power play goal from Bryan Campbell (Hannon, ONT) at 9:55 of the first period. Campbell got the first goal of his career with a shot from the point that beat Yale goaltender Alec Richards to his right side. Junior Olivier Bouchard (Quebec City, QUE) set up the senior with a pass from the left side for his 12^th assist of the season. The power play goal was the second in as many games for the Dutchmen after being held scoreless on the man-advantage in six of their seven previous games, including four straight.

Defense was the staple for both teams right from the beginning as there were only four combined shots on goal midway through the first period.

Yale came back to tie the game in the second period on a goal by Nate Jackson at 4:54. David Germain picked up a loose puck in front of the Union goal during a scramble as Mayotte came out to try and cover. That left a wide open net for Jackson at the right post after taking the feed from Germain.

The Bulldogs added another goal in the third period to take a 2-1 lead at 4:37 when Matt Cohen's shot from the slot made its way through traffic and past Mayotte on the right side.

Union's power play struck again to tie the game at 11:59 of the same period. Senior Jason Visser (Mississauga, ONT) scored the goal that would begin the marathon when he tipped home a shot by Sean Streich (Kimberley, QUE) from the left point.

Freshman Augie DiMarzo (West Haven, CT) had a chance to give Union the go-ahead goal late in the third period. He raced out of the penalty box to take a clearing attempt by Visser near center ice for a breakaway. DiMarzo tried to backhand a shot past Richards but the netminder made a left pad save to keep the game tied.

DiMarzo had another chance in the first overtime at 3:58 but his redirect off a shot by Brendan Milnamow (Wilton, CT) sailed wide.

Joe Zappala countered for Yale with a shot in front during the closing seconds of the same session. Mayotte made the save and Scott Brady (Sutton, MA) crashed in to clear the rebound.

In the second overtime Bouchard had a chance with a blast from the left face-off circle but the puck caught the tip of Richards' glove and deflected off the crossbar.

Mayotte came through for his team in the second overtime as well, making two saves late in the period. The first was a pad save on Robert Burns in front, followed by a glove save on Bill LeClerc from a shot at the left point.  

Union dug down deep in the fourth overtime, fighting off a five-minute Yale power play that carried over from the third overtime.

Meckler sealed up the win for Yale though when he got a piece of Mayer's shot on goal to knock it past Mayotte and knock the Dutchmen from postseason play.

Yale outshot Union 61-59 for the game. It was Union's fifth straight overtime game in the playoffs and ninth of the season. This is the fourth straight time the Dutchmen have failed to advance past the first round.