SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – Five Union College men's hockey players recorded multiple points, and sophomore
Cameron Korpi recorded his first-career shutout in a 6-0 victory over Niagara on Saturday night at M&T Bank Center.
Union improved to 4-0-1, matching its best start to a season since 2018-19. It's also Union's first four-game winning streak since the early goings of the 2023-24 campaign. The Garnet Chargers outscored opponents 19-10 during their last four-game winning streak and are outscoring the opposition 19-7 on their current streak.
At the 8:31 mark in the opening frame, Niagara was called for a major penalty, setting up Union for five straight minutes on the man advantage. Senior
Parker Lindauer scored his first two goals of the season in a 2:07 span during the major, helping Union build an early lead it would never give back. Sophomore
Ben Muthersbaugh fired a shot from the top of the right circle that Lindauer bravely deflected into the goal for his first score, then Lindauer buried a rebound off a shot from first-year
Etienne Lessard to double Union's lead.
Lindauer later assisted on a pair of goals from junior
Tyler Dunbar, finishing the night with four points. Not only was it Lindauer's fourth multi-point game of his career, but it marked a career high for the forward from Madison, Wisconsin. He also became the first Garnet Charger to tally 3+ points in a game, but he would soon be joined by several of his other teammates in that category.
In the second period, Union scored once despite posting a season-high 21 shots on goal in a single period. Union put 15 consecutive shots on net before the Purple Eagles tallied their first of the second. After Lindauer won a faceoff in the left circle during a another Union power play, Dunbar put a shot off the pipe and in for his second goal in as many games, and Union's third score on the man advantage.
The Garnet Chargers entered the weekend series with Niagara just 7.7% on the power play, but their four goals on the man advantage over the two wins improved their percentage by 14%. With 21 shots in the second period, Union totaled at least 20 shots in a single period for the third time this season and had 15 or more for the ninth time in 12 total periods of regulation play.
The Garnet Chargers finished the night with 55 shots on goal, breaking 50 for the first time since Jan. 12, 2019 against St. Lawrence (54), and their most since peppering Princeton with 60 on Feb. 17, 2012.
Union doubled its lead from 3-0 to 6-0 in a 2:31 span early in the third period. Senior
Carter Korpi scored his first of the season to start the scoring outburst, and Dunbar and Muthersbaugh followed him up with their second goals each of the night.
Making his collegiate debut, first-year
Troy Pelton recorded his first-career assist on Korpi's goal, Dunbar assisted on Korpi's score to reach three points on the night, and Lessard recorded another assist for his second multi-point game of the year. Lindauer's second assist gave him a team-leading four points on the night. Union registered a season-high 17 points in the game.
Union completed its opening non-conference slate with four wins and a tie against Atlantic Hockey America opponents, extending its unbeaten streak against AHA foes to 10.
The Garnet Chargers have next week off before opening ECAC Hocket play at home against Rensselaer on Friday, Oct. 31 at 7 p.m.