Game Notes
SCHENECTADY, NY – Union, who is playing its third game in five days, faces five straight non-conference games before diving into the remainder of the ECAC Hockey schedule. The out-of-league play begins with a 7 p.m. game against American International on Tuesday night. Union, coming off a 5-2 come-from-behind win at Yale, carries a 7-5-1 record, while American International has a 4-11-0 mark.
The Dutchmen have enjoyed non-conference success thus far this season, posting a 5-1-1 record. They have won four straight during that span, starting with a 4-2 victory against Colgate to claim the third annual Governor's Cup Championship on Oct. 25. Last weekend, Union skated to a 5-4 loss at Brown on Friday, Dec. 5 and a 4-2 win at Yale on Saturday, Dec. 6.
Freshman forward
Kelly Zajac continued his success against Brown by registering a team- and career-high four points. He tallied Union's second goal and assisted on the remaining three. He is third on the team with 10 points and tied for first with six assists. Among the conference ranks, Zajac is third among freshman in point total and tied for second in assists.
In the last four games, senior defenseman
Brendan Milnamow has totaled at least one point and has posted six points. His three game goal streak came to an end against Yale, but he kept the point streak alive with an assist against the Bulldogs.
Sophomore forwards
Adam Presizniuk and
Stéphane Boileau continue to lead the team with 11 points each. Presizniuk has totaled a team-high six goals, while Boileau has a team-best six assists. The duo has combined for five of Union's 10 power-play goals.
The Yellow Jackets have dropped three of their last four, including a pair of losses last weekend to Mercyhurst, 6-3 and 11-1. Their last win came on Nov. 25 at Bentley (3-1).
American International may look familiar to Union since both team competed at the 2008 Mutual of Omaha Stampede. The Yellow Jackets lost to Nebraska-Omaha and Quinnipiac 4-1.
Sophomore forward Steve McLeod leads all AIC scorers with nine points, including a team-high tying six assists. He has also potted three goals. Behind him are junior Chris Campanale and freshmen Michael Penny and Nielsson Arcibal, who have each registered eight points.
Between the pipes, sophomore Dan Ramirez has seen the majority of action, appearing in 11 games. He has posted a 4-7-0 record behind a 3.79 goals-against average and a .890 save percentage.
In the Dutchmen's long hockey history, they have only met the Yellow Jackets one time. On Oct. 19, 2003, Union prevailed 6-3 at Messa Rink. The win was Union's third straight to begin the 2003-04 season, marking the first time in the school's Division I history it begin the season 3-0.
Joel Beal scored his first two goals via the special teams route. His initial tally with 9:43 showing came while Union was on the power play, and his second, which came with 11:50, was a shorthanded tally. AIC tied the game at 4:13 of the second period before Scott Seney and Brian Kerr scored at 8:34 and 1:17, respectively. The visitors pulled within one, 4-3, by scoring at 6:45 before Matt Vagvolgyi and Jon Poirier put the game away with tallies at 12:08 and 19:27, respectively. Poirier's second goal of the season was of the empty net variety. Tim Roth picked up his second win of the young campaign with a 17-save performance.
