Box Score

SCHENECTADY, NY – Freshman forward Matt Hatch scored twice, as No. 9 Union (21-7-3, 13-3-1 ECAC Hockey) held Cornell (11-10-2, 9-6-2 ECAC Hockey) to just nine shots on goal en route to a 4-0 win in front of 2,226 fans at Messa Rink.

 

Freshman forwards Daniel Carr and Kevin Sullivan also scored for Union and sophomore goaltender Keith Kinkaid (20-7-2) stopped all nine shots for his third shutout of the year and 20^th win of the season, a new school single-season record.

 

The Dutchmen outshot Cornell 36-9 for the night, the fewest shots Union has allowed in a game in the Division I era, breaking the previous record of 12 shots allowed set on Dec. 30, 2005 against Canisius at Messa Rink.

 

Union jumped out to an early lead on their first power play of the night, with Cornell's Dan Nicholls in the penalty box for roughing. Sophomore forward Jeremy Welsh fed Carr in the slot, who fired a wrist shot past Cornell goaltender Mike Garman (32 saves) for an early lead at 2:50 of the first period.

 

The Dutchmen would tack on another goal minutes later, as Hatch struck for his first score of the night. Senior forward Adam Presizniuk fired a shot from the circle that trickled underneath Garman. Hatch skated in and poked the puck across the goal line at 5:52 for a 2-0 Union lead.

 

Union outshot Cornell 12-2 in both the first and second periods for a 24-4 shot advantage after two periods of play. The two shots in each period set a new mark for fewest shots allowed in a period by Union this season.

 

The Dutchmen maintained a 2-0 lead heading into the third period, when Sullivan struck at 1:36, crashing the net on a rebound in the slot for his third goal of the season, and fourth point (two goals, two assists) in two games against Cornell this season.

 

Hatch added an empty net goal at 14:11 for his second two-goal game of the season.

 

The win, coupled with Yale's 3-2 loss at St. Lawrence vaults Union into first place in the conference, and gives the Dutchmen an opportunity to clinch a first round by in the ECAC Playoffs tomorrow night.

 

Union picked up its 21^st overall win to tie a school record set last year. The Dutchmen set a new mark for conference wins with their 13^th ECAC victory of the year.

 

The Dutchmen, who have won six in a row and 10 of 11, will take on Colgate at 7:00 pm tomorrow night at Messa Rink.