SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – First-year Ben Muthersbaugh recorded five points (3-2-5) to pace the Union College men's hockey team to a 6-2 non-conference win over Mercyhurst University on Friday night at Messa Rink.

Muthersbaugh scored not only his first collegiate goal, but his first collegiate hat trick, while adding assists on both of junior Nate Hanley's goals. The first-year is the first Union skater to score five points in a game since Mike Vecchione '17 recorded five (4-1-5) on October 22, 2016. Muthersbaugh becomes the first Union rookie to score a hat trick since Daniel Carr '14 recorded one in a 6-2 win against Army West Point on December 11, 2010.  

Eleven different skaters found the scoresheet in the win for Union (3-1-0). Hanley scored two goals and an assist while junior Parker Lindauer scored a goal for the second game in a row. Senior Caden Villegas notched two assists for his first multi-point game of the season. The line of Muthersbaugh, Hanley, and Villegas combined for a 10-point night (5-5-10).

Mercyhurst found the back of the net early in the first period. After sophomore Jacob Jeannette was called for interference only 21 seconds into the game, the Lakers made quick work of the early power-play opportunity. Will Margel scored on the powerplay at 1:25 of the game. Down by one with just under 21.3 seconds to go in the period, Muthersbaugh scored his first collegiate goal off a pass from junior Brandon Buhr. Only 11.3 seconds later, Muthersbaugh found the back of the net again to put Union up 2-1 going into the first intermission.

Lindauer made it a 3-1 game at 8:35 of the second period with his first goal on home ice. The junior redirected a pass from first-year Lucas Buzziol for the eventual game-winning goal. The Lakers pulled within one less than a minute later. A breakaway chance for Union saw netminder Simon Bucheler go sprawling for the save. Riley Fitzgerald corralled the loose puck and went coast to coast for the score.

Hanley's line struck early in the third period with a goal at 1:24. Hanley found the back of the net again with the one-timer for his first multi-goal game. Muthersbaugh completed the hat trick only 54 seconds after Hanley's second goal to close out the scoring.

Union dominated the faceoffs with 37 wins and only 14 losses.

Junior Kyle Chauvette made 20 saves to improve to 3-1 on the season. Bucheler stopped 27 shots in the loss and Carter McPhail made one save in 8:30 of relief in the third period.

Union looks to complete the weekend sweep of Mercyhurst tomorrow at 5:00 p.m. to close out Homecoming & Family Weekend at Messa Rink.