BURLINGTON, VT - No. 12/13 Union (8-4-4, 3-2-3 ECAC Hockey) closes out the Catamount Cup today against Merrimack (6-7-4, 4-4-1 Hockey East) in a rematch of the season opener for both teams. After a 2-1 loss to Vermont last night, Union is in search of its first win in the month of December and hoping to snap a five game winless streak (0-2-3), its longest since an eight-game winless streak in the first half of the 2007-08 season. Merrimack earned a 2-2 tie against Princeton yesterday afternoon, rallying from a two goal deficit with second period goals from Justin Mansfield and Shawn Bates.
Union is making second appearance in the Catamount Cup and first since the 2006-07 season, when the Dutchmen finished in third place, losing to St. Cloud State before a 5-1 win over rival Rensselaer on Dec. 30, 2006.
»Last Night's Contest
Senior defenseman Greg Coburn scored a power play goal, but Union fell, 2-1, to Vermont in front of 3,935 fans at Gutterson Fieldhouse in Union's opening game of the Catamount Cup. Trailing 2-0 just over halfway through the third period, Union capitalized on its fourth and final power play of the game with Vermont's Brett Bruneteau in the penalty box for slashing at 11:51. Coburn corralled a blocked shot by senior defenseman Mat Bodie and scored from the slot at 12:31.
Union continued to apply pressure late in the third period, as junior forward Kevin Sullivan nearly jammed a puck past Vermont goaltender Brody Hoffman (24 saves) with 5:00 remaining in the game. With junior goaltender Troy Grosenick (22 saves) out of the net for an extra attacker in the final minute of regulation, Sullivan had another chance, but fired wide from the slot. Robert Pole- sello and Kyle Reynolds scored second period goals for host Vermont.
»Union Against Hockey East
Union will face two Hockey East foes this weekend in Vermont and Merrimack at the Catamount Cup. The Dutchmen dropped a 4-1 decision to Merrimack earlier in the season at Messa Rink on Oct. 6, the season opener for both teams.
The loss was Union's first in regulation to a Hockey East team since the 2008-09 season, when the Dutchmen fell 4-3 to UMass on Dec. 29, 2009 at Messa Rink. Union is 31-78-9 all-time against Hockey East competition after last night's 2-1 loss to Vermont.
»Union Looks To Continue Trend of Solid Second Half Play
Over the past three seasons, Union has played its best hockey of the season after the Christmas holiday. Since the 2009-10 season, Union is 46-20-3 in games played after Dec. 25, with winning streaks of at least five games in each of those campaigns.
»Scouting Merrimack
Top Players (2012-13 stats): Jr. F Mike Collins (9 goals, 10 assists), Jr. D Jordan Heywood
(4 goals, 6 assists), Jr. F Rhett Bly (4 goals, 5 assists), So. F Josh Myers (4 goals, 4 assists)
Sr. D Kyle Bigos (2 goals, 3 assists), Jr. G Sam Marotta (3-4-2, 2.51 GAA, .912 Save %), So. G Rasmus Tirronen (3-3-2, 2.35 GAA, .914 Save %).
Synopsis: After knocking off the Dutchmen in their season opener, Merrimack (6-7-4, 4-4-1 Hockey East) has had an up and down first half of the season.
The Warriors have allowed more than two goals just once in a six game stretch that has seen Merrimack post a 2-1-3 record. Junior forward Mike Collins, Merrimack's leading scorer, has emerged as one of the top forwards in the nation. Merrimack goalies Sam Marotta, who made 33 saves in an outstanding perfor- manceagainst Union, and Rasmus Tirronen have split time in net.
»The Union-Merrimack Series
The Union-Merrimack series dates back to 1976, although the two teams met for the first time since 2004 last season, on Dec. 17, 2011, a 3-1 Union win at Lawler Arena.
Merrimack has a 20-7-3 all-time record against Union, including an 9-4-2 mark in the DI era. The Dutchmen had a four game unbeaten streak against the Warriors snapped after Union's 4-1 loss to Merrimack on opening night.
Union's first game in the Division I era took place against Merrimack on Nov. 1, 1991, a 9-6 loss at Messa Rink.
»The Last Meeting
Junior defenseman Mat Bodie scored, Union fell, 4-1, to Merrimack (1-0) in front of 2,087 fans on opening night at Messa Rink.
Merrimack forward Josh Myers scored twice early in the third period in a span of 2:19 to break a 1-1 tie, and Kyle Singleton added an empty net goal at 18:57 to seal the win for the Warriors, who were led by an outstanding ef- fort in net by Sam Marotta (32 saves).
Junior goaltender Troy Grosenick stopped 23 shots in net for the Dutchmen, who lost their season opener for the first time since the start of the 2005-06 season, a 6-1 loss to Colorado College on October 7, 2005.
Union held a banner ceremony before the game to honor the accomplishments of the 2011-12 team, but fell behind early to the visiting Warriors, who scored on their second shot of the game. Rhett Bly batted in a rebound off a shot from Dan Kolomatis at 4:04 to put Merrimack up 1-0 early in the first period.
The Dutchmen fired 16 of their 34 shots on
net in the opening period, but Marotta was
up to the task, controlling rebounds in front of the Merrimack net. Grosenick made perhaps his best stop of the night early in the second period, sprawling to make a left pad save on a breakaway chance by Justin Mansfield at 6:03 of the second period.
Just over a minute later, Union would even the score at 1-1 as Bodie fired a fluttering shot from the right point that deflected off a Mer- rimack skate and into the net at 7:25. The score would remain that way heading into the final frame, but Merrimack would strike early to take the lead for good.
