Box Score
Postgame Video - Rick Bennett

HANOVER, NH – Senior forward Kelly Zajac and sophomore forward Matt Hatch each had a goal and an assist and freshman goaltender Colin Stevens stopped 26 of 27 shots to help lead No. 11/11 Union men's hockey (17-6-7, 11-3-4 ECAC Hockey) to a 5-1 win over Dartmouth (9-11-4, 6-8-3 ECAC Hockey) in front of 3,042 fans at Thompson Arena.

Sophomore forward Kevin Sullivan, freshman forward Max Novak, and sophomore defenseman Mat Bodie also scored for the Dutchmen, who are unbeaten (4-0-1) in their last five ECAC Hockey contests.

With the win, Union assured itself of a top eight finish in conference play and home ice in an opening round ECAC Hockey playoff series.

Union got off to a fast start in the transition game, scoring twice in the first 5:28 on similar plays to chase Dartmouth goaltender Jody O'Neil (one save) from the net. Junior forward Wayne Simpson started with play with a breakout pass to Matt Hatch. Hatch used his speed to gain the zone, then fed Zajac with a drop pass, who fired a one timer from the side boards past O'Neil at 1:06.

The Dutchmen chased O'Neil from the net with a goal on 2-on-1 rush set up by a pass from junior defenseman Greg Coburn. Sophomore forward Kevin Sullivan took the puck into the corner and fired a pass that deflected off the stick of Dartmouth's Troy Mattila and past O'Neill at 5:28 of the first period.

O'Neill was pulled in favor of James Mello (28 saves) after the Union goal, which gave the Dutchmen a 2-0 lead on their first two scoring chances of the game.

Freshman forward Max Novak gave Union a three goal advantage early in the second period, scoring on a rebound at 4:20. Freshman forward Sam Coatta fed sophomore forward Cole Ikkala between the circles, who fired a low shot on net. Mello made the initial stop, but Novak fired the rebound into the net on the short side.

Dartmouth cut the Union lead to 3-1, scoring on a 2-on-1 off a Union defensive zone turnover. Junior defenseman Shawn Stuart lost his footing on a breakout pass and Dartmouth's Alex Goodship corralled the loose puck. Goodship fed Brandon McNally, who beat Stevens with a one-timer at 16:14.

Union responded quickly, as Hatch jammed a backhander past Mello at 18:09 to put the Dutchmen up 4-1. Zajac picked up an assist on the play, matching the single-season assists mark he shared with Joel Beal (2001-02) after recording 29 assists last season.

Bodie scored at 18:26 of the third period, tipping a cross-ice pass from junior forward Jeremy Welsh past Mello to give Union five goals for the 11^th time this season.

Union will host Princeton next Friday night at Messa Rink in a contest that begins at 7:00 p.m.