Last-Second Heroics Give Union Victory
SCHENECTADY, NY - Freshman center Kelly Zajac (Winnipeg, MAN)
scored on a last-ditch effort as time expired to lift the Union
College men's ice hockey team to a 5-4 victory against
non-conference foe Army on Friday at Messa Rink. Zajac's third goal
of the season came from around the goal line in the right corner.
Junior right-winger Mario Valery-Trabucco (Montreal, QB) registered
the helper on the play and finished with a season-high three
points.
The Dutchmen (5-4-1) were guided by a 3-for-6 performance on the
power play, which marked their first three-power-play-goal
performance since going 3-for-8 in a 5-3 victory against Brown on
Jan. 26, 2007.
Union also got goals from sophomore right-winger Stéphane
Boileau (Blainville, QB), sophomore left-winger Adam Presizniuk
(Calgary, AB), senior defenseman Brendan Milnamow (Wilton, CT) and
senior defenseman Lane Caffaro (Slave Lake, AB).
Union trailed 5-4 deep into the third period until Caffaro's wrist
shot from the point found pay dirt. The goal was his fourth of the
season and seventh point. Trabucco set up the play.
To begin the game, the Dutchmen threatened with a five-on-three
power play for 1:47 with just over five minutes to play in the
first period. Union posted three shots during the span of the two
power plays, but thanks to several blocked shots by the Black
Knights kept the score at zeros.
Army (3-8-1) broke through with a shot from the point by freshman
defenseman Scott Warner with 1:42 remaining in the first. The goal
was setup by freshman left-winger Danny Colvin and sophomore
right-winger Cody Omilusik.
When Union got another crack on the power play early in the second,
sophomore right-winger Stéphane Boileau (Blainville, QB)
tipped a shot by senior defenseman Brock Matheson (Gananoque, ON)
1:31 into the period. Freshman center Kelly Zajaz (Plainville, MA)
picked up the second assist, his second of the season and fourth
point. The goal was Boileau's his fourth of the season and his
team-leading ninth point of the year.
The Dutchmen improved its power play numbers with their second
tally, which came 6:25 into the second. Presizniuk cashed in on his
team-high fifth goal of the season with a rebound on a try by
junior right-winger Mario Valery-Trabucco (Montreal, QB). Junior
center Jason Walters (Renfrew, ON) also picked up an assist, his
third of the season.
After Army junior center Eric Sefchick knotted the game at 2-2 at
7:04, Milnamow scored his second goal of the season with a shot
from the blue line. Freshman defenseman Taylor Reid (Calgary, AB)
had his shot blocked and sophomore center John Simpson (Boxborough,
MA) made a diving play to sweep the puck to Milnamow. For Reid the
assist was his first career point, while for Simpson it was his
fourth of the season.
The seesaw battle continued with a deflection goal by freshman
right-winger Mark Dube at 11:38 of the second.
Junior goaltender Rich Sillery (Gaithersburg, MD) made his first
start of the season and made nine saves before being replaced by
sophomore goaltender Corey Milan (Great Barrington, MA). Milan
entered the game with the score even at threes and was credited
with his 11th victory of the season.
Union returns to Messa Rink on Saturday, Nov. 29 for a 7 p.m.
contest against Providence. Fans can participate in the Union
Athletics/Marine Corps' annual "Toys for Tots" toy drive.












