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SCHENECTADY, NY -- Freshman forward Jeremy Welsh scored his first career goal -- the game-winner -- in the Union College men's ice hockey's 4-1 season-opening victory against Maine on Friday night at Messa Rink. The Dutchmen erased a 1-0 deficit, scoring three-straight goals for the win. Welsh's goal came at 6:20 of the third period and was assisted by junior forward Adam Presizniuk and freshman defenseman Shawn Stuart.

The Dutchmen, who served 14:57 minutes in the box, gained a 3-1 lead when junior forward Justin Pallos netted a shorthanded breakaway goal at 11:31. The goal was the second of his career and the first shorthanded tally for Union since Pallos' penalty-killing lineman Andrew Buote scored against Clarkson on Mar. 7, 2009.

Junior goaltender Corey Milan, who was coming off a school-record 19 wins a season ago, made 27 saves, including 10 in the second and third periods.The win was the 26th of his career.

The Dutchmen, who killed 7-of-8 penalties, unloaded 18 shots with Maine goaltender Dave Wilson making 14 saves. Junior forward Stéphane Boileau registered an empty netter with four seconds remaining for Union's fourth goal.

Things started fast as end-to-end action in the first period, turned into Union outshooting Maine, 9-2, midway through the first period, but a couple of power plays gave the Black Bears momentum near the end of the period. Milan came up big sliding to his left to deny Robby Dee on the doorstep as time ticked down.

Union's best chance of the first came when Buote had his shot trickle through Maine goaltender Dave Wilson's arm and stopped on the goal line.

Penalties plague Union into the second, giving Maine two more power plays. Adam Shemansky scored on a tick-tack-toe play at 16:29 on a play set up by Spencer Abbott and Brian Flynn.

Junior forward John Simpson even things after winning an offensive-end face off and deflecting a shot by senior defenseman Mike Schreiber into the back of the net. The goal was Simpson's 11th of his career.

The victory was Union's fourth-consecutive season-opening victory and it is now 12-4-3 all-time in home openers.

The two teams will go at it again on Saturday at 7 p.m. at Messa Rink.