SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – Three third period goals and a career-high 36 saves for sophomore Kyle Chauvette proved to be the difference maker as Union defeated the University of Connecticut 4-1 in the home opener Friday night at Messa Rink.

The victory marks the third season in a row that Union has won in the home opener.

Four different goal scorers found the scoresheet in the victory. Junior Caden Villegas extended his goal streak to four games. Both sides of special teams saw success as senior Ville Immonen cashed in on the powerplay and senior Ben Tupker scored short-handed. Sophomore Carter Korpi scored his second goal in as many games and classmate Nate Hanley recorded a multi-point night with a pair of assists.

Villegas scored his fourth goal in as many games at 12:24 of the first period. Hanley won the draw in the left-wing circle and chipped the puck back to sophomore Nick Young. The blueliner took the puck down to the goal line and sent a quick short pass to Villegas parked in front of the net. Villegas fired a wrister home to put Union up 1-0.

After a back-and-forth second period that saw plenty of chances for both teams, the Huskies took advantage of the second intermission, finding the back of the net at 1:31 of the third stanza. Jake Richard chipped a pass right in front of the net and Harry Rees tapped it home.

Union responded with three unanswered goals in the final frame. Jake Percival was called for tripping at 7:06 of the period to put Union on the man advantage. A shot from the right circle caused a scramble in front of UConn goaltender Arsenii Sergeev and Immonen jammed the puck past Sergeev's left skate for the eventual game-winner. Korpi added his second goal in as many games on a breakaway. The sophomore gained possession in the neutral zone and went low for the insuance goal.

Tupker scored his first of the season with 1:40 to play. An interference call on Hanley put Union on the penalty kill with 2:30 to play, prompting UConn to pull their goaltender for the extra attacker. A defensive breakdown in the Union end of the ice saw Tupker gain possession at the UConn blueline and fire it home for the short-handed empty net goal.

Chauvette made his fourth start of the season and stopped a career-high 36 shots including 17 in the final period to improve to 2-2 on the season. Sergeev made 18 saves in the loss.

Union and UConn will faceoff again tomorrow for the series finale. Puck drop is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. at Messa Rink.