COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – A five-goal second period was the difference maker as the Union College men's hockey team fell 7-3 to Colorado College Friday night at Ed Robson Arena.

Three players recorded multi-point games in the loss. Junior Josh Nixon scored a goal and an assist while sophomores Nate Hanley and John Prokop each recorded a pair of helpers. Senior Chaz Smedsrud and junior Caden Villegas each scored for the second game in a row.

Union went 1-for-8 on the powerplay and went a perfect 6-for-6 on the penalty kill.

Smedsrud opened the scoring only 2:53 into the first period. Junior Josh Nixon threw a shot on net that was initially saved, but Kaidan Mbereko did not have control of the puck and Smedsrud was able to jam it home for the score. Only 15 seconds after Union killed a penalty, the Tigers tied it up. Ethan Straky used a Union defender for the screen to slip one past sophomore Kyle Chauvette.

The Tigers exploded for five goals in the second period to take a 6-1 lead after 40 minutes of play.

Nixon scored his first goal of the season at 7:06 of the third period. A shot by Prokop from the top of the right-wing circle was redirected by Hanley in front. Nixon one-timed the puck into the open net, beating a sliding Mbereko for the score. Union cut the lead to three with a power-play goal from Villegas. In a tic-tac-toe goal, Prokop sent a cross-ice pass to Hanley at the top of the right-wing circle. The sophomore found Villegas in the center of the left-wing circle and the junior picked a corner for his second of the season. After Union pulled Sharib in favor of the extra attacker, the Tigers capitalized with the empty netter.

Chauvette made 15 saves and falls to 1-1 on the season. Junior Joe Sharib entered the game in the second period and stopped 13 shots in 27:03 minutes. Mbereko made 29 saves for the win.

Union looks to split the weekend series with Colorado College tomorrow. Puck drop is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. ET at Ed Robson Arena.