Box Score
SCHENECTADY, NY – Freshman center
Kelly Zajac scored on a last-ditch effort as time expired to lift the Union College men's ice hockey team to a 5-4 victory against non-conference foe Army on Friday at Messa Rink. Zajac's third goal of the season came from around the goal line in the right corner. Junior right-winger
Mario Valery-Trabucco registered the helper on the play and finished with a season-high three points.
The Dutchmen (5-4-1) were guided by a 3-for-6 performance on the power play, which marked their first three-power-play-goal performance since going 3-for-8 in a 5-3 victory against Brown on Jan. 26, 2007.
Union also got goals from sophomore right-winger
Stéphane Boileau , sophomore left-winger
Adam Presizniuk, senior defenseman
Brendan Milnamow and senior defenseman
Lane Caffaro.
Union trailed 5-4 deep into the third period until Caffaro's wrist shot from the point found pay dirt. The goal was his fourth of the season and seventh point. Trabucco set up the play.
To begin the game, the Dutchmen threatened with a five-on-three power play for 1:47 with just over five minutes to play in the first period. Union posted three shots during the span of the two power plays, but thanks to several blocked shots by the Black Knights kept the score at zeros.
Army (3-8-1) broke through with a shot from the point by freshman defenseman Scott Warner with 1:42 remaining in the first. The goal was setup by freshman left-winger Danny Colvin and sophomore right-winger Cody Omilusik.
When Union got another crack on the power play early in the second, Boileau tipped a shot by senior defenseman
Brock Matheson 1:31 into the period. Zajaz picked up the second assist, his second of the season and fourth point. The goal was Boileau's his fourth of the season and his team-leading ninth point of the year.
The Dutchmen improved its power play numbers with their second tally, which came 6:25 into the second. Presizniuk cashed in on his team-high fifth goal of the season with a rebound on a try by Trabucco. Junior center
Jason Walters also picked up an assist, his third of the season.
After Army junior center Eric Sefchick knotted the game at 2-2 at 7:04, Milnamow scored his second goal of the season with a shot from the blue line. Freshman defenseman
Taylor Reid had his shot blocked and sophomore center
John Simpson made a diving play to sweep the puck to Milnamow. For Reid the assist was his first career point, while for Simpson it was his fourth of the season.
The seesaw battle continued with a deflection goal by freshman right-winger Mark Dube at 11:38 of the second.
Junior goaltender
Rich Sillery made his first start of the season and made nine saves before being replaced by sophomore goaltender
Corey Milan. Milan entered the game with the score even at threes and was credited with his 11th victory of the season.
Union returns to Messa Rink on Saturday, Nov. 29 for a 7 p.m. contest against Providence. Fans can participate in the Union Athletics/Marine Corps' annual “Toys for Tots” toy drive.
