SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – The Union College men's hockey team closed out the regular season with a 5-1 loss to Colgate University on Saturday afternoon at Messa Rink.
 
In the loss, Union (19-12-3, 12-8-2 ECACH) clinches the fourth seed in the upcoming ECAC Hockey Tournament and a first-round bye. The Garnet Chargers will host a best-of-three series beginning on March 14, with the opponent still to be determined. Tickets are on sale now at UnionAthletics.com/Tickets. Season ticket holders can login to purchase their seats before March 7.  
 
Senior Caden Villegas was the lone goal scorer for Union. Juniors Colby MacArthur and John Prokop each registered an assist for the Garnet Chargers.
 
Union had a few chances early in the first period. Junior Parker Lindauer had a short-handed attempt saved by Colgate netminder Andrew Takacs. A few seconds later, Lindauer rang a shot off the pipe. Colgate took control through the middle part of the period, but momentum shifted back to the Garnet Chargers in the final three minutes with four shots on goal with three additional shots going wide.
 
After a scoreless first period, the teams combined for five goals in the second period. Colgate opened the scoring at 2:58 of the middle frame with a goal from Ben Raymond. The Raiders scored three more unanswered in the period to take a 4-0 lead before Union got on the board. Prokop sent a pass from the top of the slot to MacArthur in the left circle. The center sent a shot towards the net and Villegas redirected in past Takacs for the score.
 
Trailing 4-1 in the third, Union pulled junior Kyle Chauvette with 7:30 to play in favor of the extra attacker. Daniel Panetta scored the empty net goal less than a minute later, prompting a goalie change for Union. Three Union shots went wide in the final few minutes, and the Garnet Chargers fell in the regular season finale.
 
Chauvette made 31 saves in 52:30 of game time. Senior Joe Sharib entered the game and made four saves in the final 6:27 of the game.
 
After the conclusion of the game, the team honored the six members of the senior class: Josh Phillips, Thomas Richter, Joe Sharib, Josh Nixon, Caden Villegas, and Cullen Ferguson.