HAMDEN, Conn. – The No. 12 Union College men's hockey team used a three-goal third period blitz to defeat No. 13 Quinnipiac by a 5-1 score and salvage a weekend split on Saturday night.
Union never trailed in the contest, scoring the first goal of the game just three minutes and 12 seconds into the first period. Quinnipiac did out-shoot the Dutchmen, 35-23, including a 17-6 margin in the second period, but strong play by
Darion Hanson in net helped Union come out on top.
With the win, Union is now 7-3-1 (3-3-0 ECACH) on the season, while Quinnipiac falls to 7-2-0 (2-2-0 ECACH). Union sits in a three-way tie for second place in ECAC Hockey, as Dartmouth and Rensselaer also have six points in conference play.
Summary
- Both Josh Kosack and Anthony Rinaldi had two-goal nights.
- Kosack's goals were the second and third of his career.
- Vas Kolias recorded two assists in the third period.
- Neither team was able to convert on the man advantage.
- Darion Hanson made 34 saves, second-most this season for the sophomore.
- Ryan Walker has recorded a point in all but one game so far this season.
Statistical Comparison
How It Happened
Ryan Walker got the Dutchmen on the board first with a quick goal off an offensive face-off win by
Cole Maier. After getting the puck in the circle, Walker fired a shot through traffic that beat netminder Keith Petruzzelli for the early lead.
In the second period,
Josh Kosack recorded his first point of the season with a strong drive to the net. Getting free in the corner, Kosack walked in and fired a shot on Petruzzelli, who made the initial save. Kosack stayed with it and potted his own rebound in for the 2-0 Union lead.
After a flurry of offense by Quinnipiac, the Bobcats were able to sneak one in. Michael Lombardi scored his first collegiate goal at the 16:22 mark to cut Union's lead in half.
Despite the momentum Quinnipiac gained in the end of the second period, the third period would be all Union.
After matching penalties were called, Union used the extra ice during the four-on-four play to create its third goal.
Sean Harrison entered the zone on a two-on-one with
Anthony Rinaldi. Harrison took the low, far-post shot which created a rebound and an easy tap-in goal for Rinaldi.
Minutes later, Rinaldi would find the back of the net in a similar situation. This time a shot by
Brandon Estes rebounded out to the junior for his second goal of the night.
With the game looking like it was going to end 4-1, Kosack corralled a loose puck in the offensive zone and craftily put it over the right pad of Petruzzelli for his second of the night with just 3:07 left in the game.
Up Next for the Dutchmen
The next time Union takes to the ice in competition, the Dutchmen will be skating on another continent. After a weekend off, Union will take on Yale in the opening game of the 2018 Friendship Four Tournament in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on Nov. 23.
