SCHENECTADY, NY -- Junior
Adam Presizniuk registered his 31st career goal as the 13th-ranked Union College men's ice hockey team experienced a 3-1 setback against Dartmouth on Saturday at Messa Rink. Despite the loss the Dutchmen remain in first place in ECAC Hockey with a 7-2-3 record -- they are 13-6-5 overall. Dartmouth improves to 3-9-0 in the conference and 5-14-0 on the year.
Presizniuk's goal came after Union fell behind 3-0. Freshman
Wayne Simpson began the play with a pass in the neutral zone to senior
Jason Walters, who drove to the net. The puck started at the right post, slide through the crease and Presizniuk stuffed it into the open net.
The goal was Preizniuk's eighth of the season, giving him 20 points on the year. The assist for Walters extended his scoring streak to 15 games, while Simpson picked up his ninth assist on the year.
Union's second-best scoring chance came in with eight minutes remaining in the second period while shorthanded. Sophomore
Kelly Zajac chipped the puck ahead for junior
Andrew Buote, who was denied by Dartmouth's James Mello on the breakaway. Mello stood tall for Dartmouth with 39 saves for his first career victory. The Union has run into hot goaltender in the last two games with Harvard's Ryan Carroll and Mello combining for a .977 save percentage.
The Dutchmen held a 40-23 shot advantage, marking the 17th time this season outshot its opponents -- they are 9-4-4 in those games.
Milan made his fourth ECAC Hockey start and 11th of the season, posting 20 saves.
A fluky goal by Dartmouth junior Joe Stejskal opened the scoring at 7:46 of the first period. Junior Kyle Reeds and sophomore Doug Jones worked the puck to Stejskal, who threw the puck towards the net and off the tip of Milan's glove.
The Big Green added to its lead at 7:43 of the second with a redirection goal by junior Scott Fleming, who netted his team-leading ninth goal of the season. Junior Adam Estoclet sent a pass from the right corner to the front of the net where Fleming got a stick on it.
Estoclet made it 3-0, 27 ticks into the third period with a one-timer from the slot. He now has seven goals and 17 points on the year.
Union now turns its attention to a road trip to Yale and Brown next weekend. The Dutchmen face off with the Bulldogs on Friday, Jan. 29 and with the Bears on Saturday, Jan. 30. Both contests are at 7 p.m.
