SCHENECTADY, N.Y.-The Union College men's ice hockey team travels to Dartmouth and Harvard this weekend, playing the Big Green at 7:05 p.m., Friday, Feb. 5 and taking on the Crimson at 7 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 6.
ALL TIED UP //The Dutchmen set a new program single-season record for ties on Saturday, surpassing the previous record set during the 2011-12 campaign. The Dutchmen lead Division I in ties, five of which have come on Friday, which also leads the nation.
YOU THINK WE NEED ONE MORE? //The Dutchmen, who have gone to overtime in nine of their last 18 games, lead Division I with 12 overtime contests this season. Union's 12 overtime games ties it for the program record set during the 2009-2010 season. The Dutchmen are 2-2-8 in overtime this year, with their two wins coming in back-to-back games against Massachusetts on Dec. 11 and Vermont on Dec. 20.
SEARCHING FOR W's //Union has won just one of its last nine since it had its seven-game unbeaten streak and five-game winning streak snapped at then #1/2 Quinnipiac on Jan. 7, going 1-4-4 in that span. Union is 46th in team goals against average (3.44) and 55th on the penalty kill (21 of 30/70.0%) over the last 10 games.
SHOTS FIRED //The Dutchmen are averaging 2.00 goals per game over the last four contests, but it is not because a lack of shots. Union ranks fifth in Division I in shots on goal per game over the last four contests (38.25). The Dutchmen put a season-high 40 shots on goal against Brown on Jan. 30, only to surpass the mark with 45 shots on goal in Friday's 4-1 loss against Clarkson.
SERIES VS. THE BIG GREEN //Union is 23-23-7 against Dartmouth in its Division I era and 7-2-1 in the last 10. The Big Green swept the season series last year, notching a 4-3 overtime win at Messa Rink on Nov. 7 and posting a 3-2 victory on at Thompson Arena on Jan. 31.THIS SEASON //DEC. 4, 2015 | SCHENECTADY, N.Y. | MESSA RINKUnion 3, Dartmouth 0
Alex Sakellaropoulos backstopped Union to a 3-0 win in the first meeting between the two teams this season, stopping all 34 shots he faced, including 15 in the third period, for his second shutout in three games.
Mike Vecchione registered a goal and an assist and
Matt Wilkins had two helpers
SERIES VS. THE CRIMSON //Harvard owns a 30-14-6 edge in the all-time series against Union in the Dutchmen's Division I era, but it's Union that has had the best of the series in recent years. The Dutchmen are unbeaten in their last 12 against the Crimson, going 9-0-3. Union has won its last five games at the Bright-Landry Center with its last loss at Harvard coming Feb. 13, 2010.
THIS SEASON //DEC. 4, 2015 | SCHENECTADY, N.Y. | MESSA RINKUnion 4, #8 Harvard 4
Spencer Foo had a career-high three assists and four points in Union's 4-4 tie with then #8 Harvard in the first meeting between the two teams.
Ryan Scarfo netted two goals and
Nick DeSimone added a pair of helpers. Harvard's Jimmy Vesey put the Crimson in front just 10 seconds into play in the tie. The Dutchmen led 3-2 late in the third, but Wiley Sherman produced the game-tying goal at 17:31.
NEXT UP //The Dutchmen return to Messa for their final homestand of the regular season next weekend, hosting Princeton at 7 p.m., Friday, Feb. 19 and #1/1 Quinnipiac at 7 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 20.
