SCHENECTADY, NY – The Union College men's hockey team scored three third-period goals to defeat Ferris State, 4-1, in front of a crowd of 1,862 people at Messa Rink Saturday evening. The Dutchmen, who were led by a goal and two assists from junior captain Matt Cook (Belle Mead, NJ), improve to 2-0 on the young season after the series sweep of the Bulldogs (0-2).

 

With the game knotted at 1-1 headed into the third period, the Dutchmen rattled off three goals in less than five minutes early in the frame. Freshman Adam Presizniuk (Calgary, AB) sparked the offensive blitz at 2:13. His original shot from the right side of the crease found Bulldogs' goaltender Derek MacIntyre's (Stanwood, MI) chest, but the crafty freshman collected his own rebound and slid it low past the veteran netminder's left side for his first career goal. Lane Caffaro (Slave Lake, AB) started the play by getting the puck to Stephane Boileau (Blainville, QC), who connected with Presizniuk at the right side of the net for the original shot.

 

Jason Walters (Renfrew, ON) struck at 4:52 with his first goal of the season to give Union a 3-1 lead. John Simpson (Boxborough, MA), who made his first career start tonight, stripped the puck from a defender on the boards and chipped it down low to Cook. The captain set up and passed across the slot to Walters, who was headed for the far post. Walters one-timed it for his ninth career goal.

 

Walters and Cook connected with Torren Delforte (Shortsville, NY), as the senior capped the scoring with a power-play tally at 6:27. From the point, Walters fed Cook at the goal line, and in a strikingly similar play, Cook found Delforte at the far post to give the Dutchmen the 4-1 advantage. The goal marked the third in as many games for Delforte.

 

Ferris State came out hard early in the game, but Union rallied midway through the first period and held a 10-5 shot advantage in the frame. The Bulldogs struck first, however, as Justin Lewandowski (Naperville, IL) picked up the first goal of the season for Ferris State. Aaron Lewicki (Livonia, MI) passed from behind the net to Adam Miller (Livonia, MI) at the left side of the net. Miller quickly slid the puck across to Lewandowski, who gained control after shooting into a Union defender's skate, and then sniped the puck in on Justin Mrazek's (Regina, SK) blocker side.

 

The momentum shifted in Union's favor after the goal, as the Dutchmen collected six shots in less than two minutes on a pair of power plays late in the frame. The Dutchmen fired five shots during a 1:31 two-man advantage, including a laser from the blue line by Caffarobut could not solve MacIntyre.

 

In the second frame, the Bulldogs held a six-shot advantage, but Mrazek was up to the test. Less than three minutes into the middle stanza, the Ferris State power play started to click. Chris Zarb (Waterford, MI) sent a pass from the blueline to Blair Riley (Kamloops, BC), who was waiting at the doorstep. Riley got the pass on his backhand, turned and shot just at the near post, but Mrazek denied the Bulldogs' chance to extend their lead.

 

Despite being outshot in the frame, Union struck with the equalizer on the power play at 15:08. Caffaro cleared the puck to Boileau, who skated out and passed up to Cook. Cook beat MacIntyre high on his blocker side just inside the far post.

 

Boileau led the Dutchmen in faceoffs, winning a staggering eight of nine draws (.889). Union was 33-62 (.532) at the dot on the night.

 

Mrazek (2-0) finished the night with 25 saves, while MacIntyre (0-1) collected 23 in the loss.

 

The Dutchmen held the Bulldogs scoreless in six power-play chances, while converting two of seven opportunities.

 

Union is back in action on Sunday, October 21, in a 4 p.m. exhibition game against Trois-Rivieres at Messa Rink. Admission to the game is free.