VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – With a three-goal third period, the Union College men's hockey team advanced to the ECAC Hockey quarterfinals after a 4-0 win, and weekend sweep, over Colgate on Saturday night at Messa Rink.
The win marks the fourth in a row for the Dutchmen, who are now 7-2-1 in their last 10 contests. The game also served as the final home game for Union during the 2018-19 season.
Summary
- Anthony Rinaldi, Ryan Walker, Liam Morgan and Vas Kolias all had a goal and an assist each.
- Rinaldi scored the game's first game, scoring off a turnover midway through the first period for the early Union lead.
- Walker and Kolias scored five minutes apart in the third period to put Union up 3-0.
- Morgan scored his second empty-netter of the weekend to secure the 4-0 win.
- Neither side converted on the power play, as Union went 0-for-1, and Colgate 0-for-1.
- Darion Hanson made 29 saves in net and earned his third shutout of the season.
Statistical Comparison
How It Happened
Junior forward
Anthony Rinaldi scored his 10th of the season to get Union on the board first. Rinaldi picked up an errant pass by the Raider in their defensive zone, and alone with the goalie, he slipped it far side to open the scoring at the 11:21 mark of the first period.
The second period saw both teams settle into a defensive battle. Both teams earned one power play each, but neither side would find the back of the net during the 20-minute frame.
It took another nine minutes of play into the third period before a goal would be scored. On an offensive-zone entry,
Liam Morgan got the puck over to
Cole Maier who then found
Ryan Walker open on the far side. Walker didn't hesitate and put the puck over Colgate netminder Mitch Benson's glove for his team-best 15th goal of the season.
The Dutchmen connected some more crisp passes for their third goal, this time
Sebastian Vidmar entered the zone before dishing the puck over to Rinaldi, who was just right of the Colgate net. Defenseman
Vas Kolias was in on the rush and crashed the net on the far side and received a great pass from Rinaldi before finishing it off to give Union a 3-0 lead with just over five minutes to play.
As the Raiders made a bid to extend their season, Morgan got the puck on the empty net for the second time this weekend, securing the first-round playoff win for the Dutchmen.
Up Next for the Dutchmen
Union's opponent for the March 15-17 best-of-three quarterfinals has yet to be determined, pending the result of the Dartmouth-St. Lawrence series, which finishes tomorrow, March 10. If Dartmouth wins, Union will travel to Cornell for the quarterfinals, and if St. Lawrence wins, Union will travel to Clarkson.
