VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – Four different skaters recorded two-point nights as the Union College men's hockey team defeated Colgate, 4-1, in the first game of a best-of-three series for the early lead in the ECAC Hockey Tournament on Friday night at Messa Rink.
Union's
Cole Maier,
Jack Adams and
Liam Morgan had a goal and an assist each, while
Vas Kolias finished the night with two assists. The win marks the first postseason win for the Dutchmen since the 2016-17 season.
Summary
- Ryan Walker scored 17 seconds into the game's first power play to give Union an early lead.
- Cole Maier and Jack Adams scored 20 seconds apart in the second period to break a 1-1 stalemate and put Union up, 3-1.
- Liam Morgan capped off the contest with an empty-netter within the final minute to solidify the win.
- Darion Hanson made 25 saves in net for his 11th win of the season.
- The Dutchmen went 1-for-3 on the power play and a perfect 1-for-1 on the penalty kill.
Statistical Comparison
How It Happened
Union earned the first power play of the game after Colgate's Tyler Penner was called for hooking at the 7:11 mark of the first period. The advantage didn't' last long as the Dutchmen only needed 20 seconds to find the back of the net. Working the puck around the zone,
Jack Adams got the puck down low to
Cole Maier, who then found
Ryan Walker at the backdoor for the easy goal.
However, the Raiders would tie the game back up before the end of the first period, as Adam Dauda scored his fifth of the year on a breakaway with less than four minutes left to play in the first.
In the second period, Maier broke the tie with his eighth goal of the season. After getting the puck out of the corner, Maier went to the side of the net and forced the puck through on the short side to put Union up 2-1.
Just seconds later after Maier's goal, Adams would go on to score one of the Dutchmen's best highlight-reel goals this season. Going hard on a forecheck, Adams caused the Raiders to cough up the puck on a breakout. With the loose puck sitting in the slot, the 6-5 sophomore dove out onto his stomach to swat the puck on net and caught Colgate netminder Mitch Benson off guard, as the puck slipped past for the 3-1 Union lead.
After the amazing goal, both teams settled into a defensive game and the final scoring of the contest would come in the last minute of play as
Liam Morgan capped off his night with an empty netter for the 4-1 win.
Up Next for the Dutchmen
Union looks to advance to the ECAC Hockey quarterfinals tomorrow night, March 9, in game two against Colgate. Puck drop at Messa Rink is scheduled for 7 p.m. (ET).
