SCHENECTADY, NY - No. 8/8 Union (7-2-1, 3-1-0 ECAC Hockey) will look to close out a two-game series against Penn State (6-4-0) this afternoon at Messa Rink in a rare 4:00 p.m. contest. Since the 2009-10 season, the Dutchmen are 3-0 when winning the first game of a two-game regular season series. Union is looking for its second regular season sweep of the season after winning twice at Bowling Green on Oct. 12-13.
Today's contest will mark Union's last home game in non-conference play this season, Since the start of the 2010-11 season, the Dutchmen have had a lot of success against non-conference opponents at Messa Rink, compiling a record of 8-1-3 in 12 contests.
»Last Night's Contest
Last night, senior forward Wayne Simpson scored his team-leading seventh goal of the season in the second period, and sophomore goaltender Colin Stevens made 22 saves to lead Union to a 2-0 win over Penn State (6-4-0) in front of 1,815 fans at Messa Rink.
Stevens earned his second shutout of the season in just his third start, making 10 third period saves to help preserve Union's slim margin late in the game. Junior forward Cole Ikkala added an empty net goal at 19:46 of the third period his first of the season, to seal the win for the Dutchmen. Penn State freshman Matthew Skoff made 40 saves in net for the Nittany Lions, as Union outshot PSU 42-22 on the night.
»Home Is Where The Heart Is
Since the start of the 2010-11 season, the Dutchmen have an impressive record (24-4-6) in their last 34 regular season home games at Messa Rink. Not including exhibition contests, the Dutchmen are 152-138-45 all-time at home. Union has been even more dominant in ECAC Hockey play at Messa Rink. Over the past two plus seasons, the Dutchmen have compiled a record of 17-3-3 in ECAC Hockey regular season home games.
»Dutchmen Scoring in Bunches
Through 10 games this season, Union has scored four or more goals in six games this season and has has received great depth in scoring with contributions from 15 different goal-scorers. Senior forward Wayne Simpson (seven goals) leads the group and has scored goals in seven of his last eight games.
»Carr and Simpson Near Union College Century Club
Early on in the 2012-13 season, Union has two players nearing 100 career points. Senior forward Wayne Simpson (91 points) and junior forward Daniel Carr (83 points) could also become the ninth and tenth players to join the Union College Century Club in the Division I era this season.
»Scouting Penn State
Top Players (2012-13 stats): Fr. F David Glen (6 goals, 4 assists), Fr. F Casey Bailey (4 goals, 4 assists), So. F Max Gardiner (2 goals, 6 assists), Jr. F Michael McDonagh (goal, 5 assists), So. D Nate Jensen (goal, 4 assists), Fr. D Joseph Lordo (four assists), Fr. G PJ Musico (4-1-0, 2.41 GAA, .922 Save%) Fr. G Matthew Skoff (2-2-0, 2.21 GAA, .920 Save%)
Synopsis: Penn State's inaugural season at the Division I level has gotten off to an impressive start, as the Nittany Lions are 6-3-0 in their first nine games against mostly Division I competition.
-The Nittany Lions are getting key contributions from many of their younger players - five of their top leading scorers are freshman - as head coach Guy Gadowsky assembled an impressive recruiting class last season with the team still competing at the club level. Freshman forward David Glen is leading the way with 10 points (six goals, four assists), while classmate Casey Bailey (four goals, four assists) has eight points (four goals, four assists). Glen is fourth in the nation among freshmen, averaging 1.11 points per game.
-Sophomore forward Max Gardiner (two goals, six assists), a transfer from the University of Minnesota, has also had an impact up front for Penn State. Gardiner was in the lineup when Union defeated Minnesota, 3-2, on Dec. 31, 2010.
-Junior defenseman Nate Jensen, an assistant captain, along with freshman defenseman Joseph Lorda has been Penn State's top defenseive pair. Two freshmen goaltenders, PJ Musico and Matthew Skoff have split time in net, with Skoff getting the most recent start in a 5-1 win against Air Force on Nov. 10.
-Penn State is 12th in the nation in scoring, averaging 3.33 goals/game, and has scored four or more goals in five of nine games this season. The Nittany Lions are 22nd in scoring defense, allowing 2.44 goals/game. Penn State is 52nd in the nation on the man advantage (9.1%) and 25th on the penalty kill (85.1%).
-Gadowsky has experience coaching against some of Union's current crop of players, having spent seven seasons as the head coach at Princeton from 2004-2011 before making the move to Penn State. He also served as the head coach at Alaska-Fairbanks from 1999-2004.
-In addition to 10 freshmen, Penn State has five transfers on its roster, including Gardner, junior forward Taylor Holstrom (Mercyhurst), junior defenseman Nate Jensen (Mercyhurst), junior forward Bryce Johnson (St. Cloud St.), and junior forward Justin Kirchhevel (Alaska-Anchorage).
»Union Against Guy Gadowsky
Penn State head coach Guy Gadowsky will have some familiarity with Union's current roster, as Godowsky was the head coach at Princeton from 2004-2011. In 17 games against Gadowsky's Princeton teams, Union compiled a record of 11-5-1, including a run of four straight wins to close out the series in which Union outscored Princeton by a combined score of 23-8.
