Union College Athletics

NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – The Union College men's hockey team scored three power-play goals for the second night in a row but fell 5-4 in overtime against Niagara University on Saturday evening inside Dwyer Arena.

Union (3-2-0) suffered its first loss in program history against Niagara (4-4-0) and also dropped its first game against an Atlantic Hockey America opponent in its last 14 matchups.
 
Had Union been able to pull off the overtime victory, the Garnet Chargers would have posted their third three-goal comeback since the beginning of the 2025-26 season. Union came back to beat Colgate and Mercyhurst last season after trailing by three and trailed the Purple Eagles 4-1 at the 11:29 mark Saturday. 

Sophomore Luke Buss scored to open the scoring for his squad in the second as Union trailed 2-0. He notched his second of the season after sticking with the play when the Purple Eagles thought he scored on his initial shot. Buss was the only player on the ice to keep moving, recollected the puck, and sniped to get his team on the board. 

Trailing 4-1, the Garnet Chargers not only scored three-power play goals for the second game in a row, they also scored three consecutive times on the man advantage for a second straight night.

Junior Riley Brueck scored two of them, getting one late in the second and then deflecting another one into the back of the net off a shot from his classmate Connor Smith 7:00 into the third during a five-on-three. First-year Luke Garry netted his first collegiate power-play goal 63 seconds later, tying the game at 4-4. 

Union outshot Niagara 3-0 in the final four minutes of regulation and also outnumbered the Purple Eagles in total shot attempts 8-0. However, Niagara took the only shot of the overtime period as Jack Richard scored the game-winner 35 into extra time.
 
Union suffered its second overtime loss in the last seven days. Union can be satisfied with its special teams after hanging six power-play goals on a Niagara squad that came into the weekend with only one goal allowed on the kill in 25 opportunities. Union also killed off three penalties on Saturday.

Sophomore Brayden Gillespie posted a .821 save percentage on 23 saves but did shut out the Purple Eagles in the third period to enable his team's comeback attempt. Junior Jack Henry led the team with two blocked shots, and nine Garnet Chargers recorded at least one point. Junior Will Felicio led the way with two assists and Brueck had a pair of goals. 

Union opens ECAC Hockey play on Friday, Oct. 30 at 7 p.m. against Rensselaer on the road.