Box Score

HAMDEN, CT – Senior forward Justin Pallos scored the game-winning goal at 2:44 of overtime to lead No. 11 Union (20-7-3, 12-3-1 ECAC Hockey) to a 3-2 win over Quinnipiac (13-11-5, 6-7-4 ECAC Hockey) in front of 2,473 fans at TD Bank Sports Center.

 

Senior forward Andrew Buote set up the goal by pressuring Mike Dalhuisen off the puck. Pallos skated in all alone on goaltender Eric Hartzell, switched to his backhand and fired the puck into the top corner for his eighth goal of the season, a career high.

 

The Dutchmen trailed 2-1 entering the third period, and previously had a 1-5-0 record when trailing after two periods this season. But Union quickly erased the deficit at 1:39 of the third period on a nice series of passes to set up senior defenseman Brock Matheson for his second goal of the season.

 

Sophomore forward Jeremy Welsh curled away from the net in the offensive zone and fed sophomore defenseman Ryan Forgaard, who fired a cross ice pass to a streaking Matheson, who found an open net to even up the game at 2-2.

 

The Dutchmen surrendered the game's first goal for the third consecutive road contest. Quinnipiac freshman Connor Jones cut forward off a faceoff win and fired a shot off the right pad of sophomore goaltender Keith Kinkaid. The rebound went right to Kellen Jones, who fired a backhander into an open net at 7:09, giving Quinnipiac a 1-0 lead.

 

In a second period where Union carried the play for long stretches and outshot the Bobcats 18-5, Quinnipiac managed to maintain their one-goal lead.

 

Union drew even on its third power play opportunity of the night in the opening minutes of the second period. Freshman forward Daniel Carr drew the power play when he was sent head over heels by Connor Jones along the sideboards. Jones was whistled for boarding on the play.

 

On the ensuing man advantage, senior forward John Simpson cut into the offensive zone on a rush up ice, drew two defenders, and found brother Wayne alone in the slot.

Wayne Simpson beat Hartzel with a low wrist shot between the pads to tie the game at 9:33.

 

Union's lead was short-lived however, as Quinnipiac took a 2-1 lead minutes later, just after their own power play opportunity expired. With senior forward Andrew Buote in the penalty box for boarding, Mike Dalhuisen skated off the bench and fired a wrist shot on net that John Dunbar deflected past Kinkaid at 12:26.

 

The goal set up Union's second third period comeback of the season, and its 20^th win of the season, the second time in the Division I era that the Dutchmen have reached the 20-win plateau.

 

Union outshot Quinnipiac 38-25 for the game and went 1-for-4 on the power play, while holding the Bobcats scoreless in three power play chances.

 

Kinkaid (19-7-2) made 23 stops to earn his 19^th win of the season, tying the single-season record set by Corey Milan in the 2008-2009 season.

 

The Dutchmen will host Cornell at 7:00 p.m. next Friday night at Messa Rink.