SCHENECTADY, N.Y. -- It's become grind time for the Union Dutchmen.  

For the second game in a row, Union rallied from a deficit to pull out a gutsy 4-3 victory over Brown in front of 1,921 fans at Messa Rink.  With the win, Union secured its hold of first place in ECAC Hockey (12-3-0), while improving to 18-6-3 overall.  The Dutchmen also ran their record against Ivy League schools to 8-0.

Max Novak scored the game winner just 1:01 into the third period, ripping a wrist shot from the right faceoff circle off an assist from Shayne Gostisbehere, who extended his points streak to five games.

Novak's third game-winner was the only goal in the period, as Union kept Brown off the scoreboard for the final 20 minutes.  

The Bears tied the contest with 31 seconds left in the second period on Zack Pryzbek's goal.  Union has seized its first lead of the game (3-2) just moments earlier at 18:53 of the middle period, when Sam Coatta scored from the slot.

A see-saw battle ensued for most of the game.  Mat Bodie returned from his two-game absence to light the lamp at 6:18 off the first period on a slapshot.  Brown then scored two goals 15 seconds apart on tallies from Mark Naclerio and Nick Lappin to build a 2-1 lead.

Daniel Ciampini tied the contest at 2-2 with his 11th goal of the season at 1:15 of the second period.

Brown finished with a 37-31 shot advantage, but goaltender Colin Stevens was up to the challenge in making 34 saves, including 12 in the final period.  Senior Daniel Carr provided offensive support with a pair of assists for his eighth multiple-point game of the season.

The Garnet and White take on defending NCAA champion Yale tomorrow night (7:08 p.m.) at Messa Rink.