SCHENECTADY, NY -- In front of 2,147 fans in attendance for “Senior Night” at Messa Rink, the 16th-ranked Union College men's ice hockey team utilized its veterans to defeat the Quinnipiac 7-3. Saturday night's win gave Union a weekend sweep of both Princeton and Quinnipiac, and completed its regular season home schedule. The Dutchmen (18-8-6) improved to 12-4-4 and second place in ECAC Hockey play, while Quinnipiac (15-15-2) now stands 9-11-0 in conference play.
All eight seniors not only saw ice time, but made important contributions to help Union on this night. The seniors combined to score 12 of Union's 17 points on the evening.
Senior
Jeff Christiansen chose a fine time to pick up his first points on the year, as he tallied a goal and assist in his season debut. Christiansen's go ahead goal came at 8:52 of the second period on a put back wrist shot over the glove of Quinnipiac netminder Mathieu Cadieux. The goal gives the left winger six career goals.
The senior studded fourth line for Union continued its productive play as
Jason Shaffer picked up his first goal on the year at 16:07 of the second. Shaffer was assisted by
Jon Lareau and
Mike Schreiber.
Schreiber became Union's single-season defensive points leader in the first period of play, earning his 27th on the year, as senior
Jason Walters gave Union a 2-0 lead at 15:39. A streaking Walters received Schreiber's pass and buried the puck between the legs of Quinnipiac's sophomore goaltender Dan Clarke. Following the goal, Cadieux replaced Clarke in net for the remainder of the contest.
Schreiber passes d-man
Lane Caffaro's 26 point record, which he registered during the 2006-07 season. The Sherwood Park native finished the game with two assists to give him 28 on the season thus far. Schreiber remains one goal behind
Brendan Milnamow's nine goals, a Union record for most goals by a defenseman in a season.
Union began the scoring in the first period at 4:39 as junior
Brock Matheson's redirection in front gave Union an early 1-0 lead. Matheson's fifth goal of the season came when Christiansen won the faceoff and slotted the puck to the point where Shaffer (his fourth assist) slapped one towards the net.
The Bobcats responded just over a minute later at the 16:35 mark of the first on a Mike Atkinson score, his ninth goal of the season. The senior was assisted by freshmen winger Russell Goodman and Jeremy Langlois.
Quinnipiac knotted things up at 5:50 of the second period with a goal from senior Greg Holt (one goal, one assist on the evening). Clay Harvey picked up the assist on the play.
In the third period, Union extended its lead with a goal from freshman
Jeremy Welsh on assists from junior Stephane Boileau and sophomore
Nolan Julseth-White. On the play Welsh earned his ninth tally goal, while Boileau and Julseth-White picked up their 10th and seventh assists respectively.
Senior Brandon Wong netted his team leading 16th goal of the season at 12:12 of the third period coming off a pass from Holt.
Senior
Mario Valery-Trabucco picked up his team leading 19th goal at 17:04 of the third period, and is now tied with Jordan Webb for most goals all-time with 55. Less than a minute later at 17:58, junior
Andrew Buote tallied his fifth goal of the season.
Union will battle it out for second place with Cornell on Friday, Feb. 26 at 7 p.m. at Lynah Rink.
