SCHENECTADY, NY -- Behind a strong defensive effort the 17th-ranked and third-seeded Union College men's ice hockey team forced a game three in the ECAC Hockey quarterfinals with a 3-1 victory against seventh-seeded Quinnipiac on Saturday night at Messa Rink. After the Bobcats (20-17-2) took game one, 3-2, in the longest game in NCAA history, the Dutchmen (19-11-6) responded with its school-record-tying 19th victory of the season.
The Dutchmen limited the Bobcats to 28 shots and junior goaltender
Corey Milan turned away 27 shots for his eighth victory of the season and 33rd of his career -- the second most in Union's Division I history.
Junior
Adam Presizniuk led the offensive charge with a pair of goals and sophomore
Luke Cain netted the game-winning goal late in the second period.
Quinnipiac appeared to jump out to a 1-0 lead within the first four minutes of the contest, but it was ruled that Spencer Heichman used his skate to sneak one pass Union junior goaltender
Corey Milan.
After video replay confirmed the non-goal, junior
Adam Presizniuk deflected in the game's first goal 5:01 into the game. The tally, which came on the power play, started with a pass from sophomore
Kelly Zajac to senior
Mario Valery-Trabucco at the point. Trabucco sent a wrister towards the net where Presizniuk redirected home.
The goal was the 11th of the season for Presizniuk, giving him 33 points on the season. The assist was Trabucco's 44th point of the season and the 113th of his career.
As the first period entered the final five minutes, Bobcat senior Brandon Wong tipped in his 19th goal of the season at 17:15.
Both teams appeared to be heading into the break in a 1-1 tie, but a centering pass from junior
Justin Pallos to sophmore
Luke Cain gave the Dutchmen a 2-1 lead at 18:27. The play started with a dump in by sophomore
Nolan Julseth-White.
The third and deciding game of the series will take place on Sunday, Mar. 14 at 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at Messa Rink, starting at 3 p.m. Fans can also call (518) 388-6010 and leave a name and phone number.
