ALBANY, N.Y. – Senior Brandon Buhr scored in overtime to complete the Union College men's hockey team's two-goal comeback over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute on Saturday night at MVP Arena, securing the Garnet Chargers' fifth straight Mayors' Cup title. 

While Buhr finished the night with two goals, he had not yet scored when RPI (6-18-0) seemingly put the game away on an empty-netter with 2:54 left in regulation. Union's assistant captain scored his first of the night at the 17:18 mark of the third period, bringing Union (15-8-2) within one of the Engineers and setting up a wild and unforgettable final few minutes of hockey. Sophomore Riley Brueck potted the game-tying goal 77 seconds later, paving the way for Buhr's heroic game-winning tally 2:25 into overtime. Buhr has 12 game-winning goals in his career and is tied for the second-most game-winners in college hockey this season (5). 
Before the dramatic finish, RPI had the advantage through most of the game. Both team posted seven shots on goal in the first period, but RPI's goaltender Nate Krawchuck made one more save than sophomore Cameron Korpi in the opening stanza. Rainers Rullers scored for the Engineers 6:21 into play, assisted by Dovar Tinling and Ethan Bono. Tinling finished the night with three points, marking the best scoring performance from an RPI player in the 13-year history of the Mayors' Cup. Krawchuck also ended his night with 35 saves, which are the most by any goaltender in the Mayors' Cup since Owen Savory in 2019 (43).

Junior Carter Rose scored his first goal of the season and first in Garnet & White, tying the game up 1-1 early in the second period. His score was set up by sophomore Lucas Buzziol and senior Nate Hanley. Buzziol, who also assisted on Buhr's game-winner, found Rose on the left side. The junior from Brasher Falls, N.Y. skated in on net, and fired a wrist shot over Krawchuk's right shoulder. With the secondary assist on Rose's goal, Hanley now has 11 points against RPI in his career. 

RPI pulled back ahead with the next two scores before senior Colby MacArthur stopped the bleeding at 12:16 in the third. Sophomore Ben Muthersbaugh worked to keep the puck in Union's offensive zone and passed out to junior Tyler Dunbar. The Garnet Charger defenseman quickly put the puck back in the slot, finding MacArthur for his sixth of the year. 

Trailing 3-2, Union zeroed in on the game-tying goal and pulled Korpi with 3:02 left in regulation. However, RPI capitalized on the empty net eight second later. 

The Garnet Chargers had previously erased a three-goal deficit back in October against Mercyhurst and turned to its leading goal scorer in Buhr to mount another improbable comeback. Trailing 4-2 with 2:54 remaining, Union pulled its goalie once again and this time, scored with the extra skater. 

Buhr netted his 16th goal of the season, assisted by MacArthur and first-year Alex Laurenza. The Garnet Chargers entered the Mayors' Cup 14-0-1 when Buhr had at least one point and 0-8-1 when Buhr is held out of the box score. Brueck made sure that his team at least had a chance to extend that streak, burying one on the doorstep with 1:25 left in regulation. Senior Parker Lindauer and Laurenza earned assists on the play, giving Laurenza his second multi-assist game of the season. 

After Buhr's first of the night and Brueck's game-tying score, the two rivals skated in overtime of the Mayors' Cup for the second season in a row. Midway through the extra period, first-year Etienne Lessard carried the puck into the zone and found Buzziol, who put a shot on target. Buhr was right in front for the rebound. First he tapped the puck up in the air, lining himself up for a second whack at it and batting it out of midair to give Union the victory.

As the Garnet Chargers jumped over the wall from their bench onto the ice, they only briefly paused as RPI challenged the play for a high stick. Once Buhr's game-winner was officially confirmed, Union continued its on-ice celebration in front of 7,113 fans in Albany and lifted the Mayors' Cup trophy for the fifth year in a row. The overtime win also maintained head coach Josh Hauge's flawless 4-0 record in Mayors' Cup games.  

Korpi stopped 17 shots as he earned his second win against RPI in net. Both teams went 0-1 on the power play, with RPI registering the only shot of the game from either team on the man advantage. 

Union secured its 10th Mayors' Cup victory and fifth in a row. Union also snapped a two-game losing streak, avoiding its first three-game skid since December 2024. 

The Garnet Chargers visit Dartmouth on Jan. 30 at 7 p.m. for their next game and a return to ECAC Hockey play.