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SCHENECTADY, NY -- Sophomore forward Kelly Zajac had two goals as the Union College men's ice hockey team skated to a 3-3 tie against sixth-ranked and defending ECAC Hockey Champion Yale on Saturday night at Messa Rink. The game, which was Union's fourth-straight overtime contest, moves Union to 3-3-3 overall and 0-0-2 in the conference. Yale now stands at 1-1-1 and 0-1-1 in ECACH play.

Zajac now has three goals in two games and four goals in four games, increasing his point total to five on the year. The Dutchmen's other goal came from senior forward Mario Valery-Trabucco, who potted his third of the season, tying him for the team lead with nine points.

The Dutchmen carried a 3-1 lead into the third period thanks to Zajac's second goal of the game, which came after junior forward Andrew Buote intercepted a pass in the neutral zone, carried into the offensive end and drove to the net. The puck popped off his stick in front for Zajac to tap it into the open net with 40 seconds left in the second.

Only a few minutes earlier Valery-Trabucco broke a 1-1 tie at 13:22. Freshman defenseman Greg Coburn and senior forward Jason Walters moved the puck forward until Trabucco gained possession, took a shot on goal and cashed in on his own rebound while moving to his right.

With Union holding a 29-17 shot advantage after two, Yale responded outshooting the Dutchmen 17-7 in the final period. Junior forward Brock Little registered his fourth of the season at 8:49 and senior forward Sean Backman registered his second of the night and the game-tying goal with only six seconds remaining in regulation.

His tally came after an offensive-zone face-off win by freshman forward Andrew Miller, who won it back to Little. After taking a step towards the slot, Little found Backman below the left, face-off dot for a one-timer.

The Dutchmen, who killed of three Yale man advantages, went 1-for-3 on the power-play giving them a man-up goal in each of the last four games.

After Backman opened the scoring a on a wrist shot on a drop pass by senior forward Mark Arcobello at 11:36 of the first, Zajac netted his third power-play goal of the season. Valery-Trabucco fired a shot on goal, which was tipped by junior forward Adam Presizniuk. The deflection sailed wide and Zajac went from skate to stick and shot it into the back of the net.

Union now prepares for a trip north when it goes to St. Lawrence on Friday, Nov. 13 and Clarkson on Saturday, Nov. 14. Both games are slated for 7 p.m.