SCHENECTADY, NY -- Senior forward
Mario Valery-Trabucco recorded his school-record 39th point of the season and the 16th-ranked Union College men's ice hockey team earned a first round bye in ECAC Hockey with a 4-1 win against Princeton on Friday night. The victory, Union's program-record 11th conference win, came in front of 2,196 fans all dressed in white for the Dutchmen's "White Out Night.
Thanks to a St. Lawrence loss and a Colgate tie, Union (17-8-6) can finish no lower than fourth place in ECAC Hockey and currently stands with a 11-4-4 record. Princeton (10-13-3) goes to 6-11-2 in the conference.
Trabucco's historic moment came at 4:10 of the second period, as the right winger corralled the bouncing puck and sniped a wrist shot glove side to give Union a 1-0 advantage. The unassisted score moved Trabucco within one goal from tying Union's Jordan Webb record 55 career goals, but more importantly provided the spark the Dutchman were looking for.
As it has been a season to remember for the Montreal, Quebec native, Trabucco climbs within six points of Union's all-time points leader Webb, who posted 114 points from 2001-05.
Following Trabucco's goal, the Tigers put forth a furious five minute onslaught which freshman goaltender
Keith Kinkaid and the rest of the Dutchman were able to endure. Kinkaid turned away 34 shots on the night and improving his season record to 10-4-3 and 8-2-2 in ECACH play .
During this ferocious attack by the Tigers, sophomore
Nolan Julseth-White highlighted a penalty kill for Union with a diving effort to clear the puck out of the zone. This type of hard nose play would pay off for the Dutchman as quick passing from juniors
John Simpson (13th assist) and Stephane Boileau(9th assist) contributed to a
Jeremy Welsh goal, the Dutchman's second goal of the period. Welsh's 8th goal on the year came at 12:50.
Down 2-0, Princeton remained aggressive in the third period, yet at 9:07 freshman
Kyle Bodie (4 goals this season) skated around the net and ripped a shot that beat Princeton's senior goaltender Zane Kalemba.
Andrew Buote registered his seventh assist of the season.
Union's fourth goal was netted by sophomore
Kelly Zajac, who recorded his 10th goal this season at 17:06 on an empty net goal. He was assisted by sophomore
Luke Cain and Welsh.
The Tigers' goal came at 14:43 of the third off the stick of Kevin Lohry; assisted by Will MacDonald.
The Dutchmen conclude their regular season home schedule on Saturday, Feb. 20 with "Senior Night". Union takes on Quinnipiac at 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at
UnionAthleticsTickets.com.
