Union College Athletics

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – The Union College men's hockey team battled #7/8 Providence College into overtime on Friday night at M&T Bank Center, eventually falling 3-2 in the extra session.

First-year Nathan Free put the Garnet Chargers (2-1-0) up late in the second period, and sophomore Brayden Gillespie stopped 29 shots, but Graham Gamache eventually netted the game-winner in overtime for the Friars (3-0-0).

As the two sides felt each other out through most of the first period, neither team was able to generate many chances in dangerous areas. Most shots were coming from the blue line or farther, except for Providence's first goal at 2:56 in the first. 

Sophomore Alex Laurenza later deflected in his classmate Troy Pelton's shot from distance to tie things up at 15:22. Then the Garnet Chargers earned a power play late in the period and took eight shots while a man up, leading to a 15-7 shot-on-goal advantage through the opening 20 minutes of play. 

Providence's goaltender Jack Parsons saved the first 10 shots he saw in the second period and ended his night with 32 saves. However, as Free's momentum carried him away from the crease, he was able to pick the top-right corner and rocket one past Parsons to put the home team up 2-1. Free's first collegiate goal also gave him a multi-point game after assisting on Laurenza's game-tying score in the first. 

Union protected its lead until there was 7:14 left in regulation. Jonathan Fauchon tied things up for the Friars after Gillespie had been standing on his head with seven saves in the third period up to that point. 

Gillespie came up with one final huge save in the period as Union successfully killed off its second penalty of the night and forced overtime. 

Senior Tyler Dunbar took the first shot on target in overtime, but Parson took care of it. Gillespie was able to add two more saves to his tally in the extra period before Gamache shocked the M&T Bank crowd of 2,121 by netting the game-winner with 1:46 left to play. 

The overtime loss gives Union a 3-4-1 record against ranked teams since the start of last season. Pelton notched a multi-assist game for the second time in his career, and Laurenza's two-point night marks his first game with two or more points since the Mayor's Cup on Jan. 24, 2026. 

Union hits the road for two games against Niagara University, with the series beginning Friday. Oct. 23 at 7 p.m.