SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – The Union College men's hockey team scored two goals in a span of 1:46 in the third period to come from behind and defeat the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 4-3, to clinch the Capital Skates trophy for the first time since 2017 on Saturday night at Messa Rink.

With the win, Union (6-1-0, 2-0-0 ECACH) is having the best start to a season since the 1976-77 season, where the program won their first seven games.

First-year Ben Muthersbaugh scored the game-winning goal for the second weekend in a row to cap off a four-point weekend (3-1-4). The rookie moves into second-place nationally and first among all first-years with 13 points (6-7-13).

Juniors Brandon Buhr and John Prokop each scored a goal in the win. Senior Josh Nixon scored the game-tying goal in the third period. Junior Colby MacArthur (0-2-2) and Muthersbaugh (1-1-2) each recorded a multi-point game.

In a dramatic start to the game, three goals were scored in the first 5:35. Union needed only 94 seconds to find the back of the net after MacArthur forced a turnover in offensive end of the ice and found Buhr in the slot. Buhr sent a wrister over Noah Giesbrecht's shoulder for the first goal of the night. RPI scored only 1:13 later off of a goal from Rainers Rullers. Muthersbaugh ripped a shot from the right circle and Prokop was on the doorstep to redirect the puck in to give Union a 2-1 lead.

Neither team found the back of the net in the middle frame, but Union did hold a 10-6 advantage in shots.

The Engineers struck twice in the third period to take a 3-2 lead. Elliott McDermott scored on the powerplay to tie the game. Max Smolinski scored his first goal of the season to give RPI their first lead of the weekend. Jack Agnew was called for hooking at 13:31 of the period to give Union their first power-play opportunity of the night. Junior Parker Lindauer made a short pass from the end wall to Nixon in the slot and the senior cashed in on the powerplay to tie the game at three. Muthersbaugh struck only 1:46 later for the eventual game-winning goal. The rookie sent a backhanded shot from the center of the right circle that beat Giesbrecht.

Junior Kyle Chauvette made 20 saves to improve to 6-1 on the season. Giesbrecht stopped 22 shots in the loss.

Union will enjoy a weekend off before Alaska Fairbanks comes to town for a two-game series beginning on Friday, November 8. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at Messa Rink.