Dutchmen Complete Sweep of RPI with Overtime Win
SCHENECTADY, NY - Freshman forward Kelly Zajac scored with 1:41
into overtime to give the Union College men's ice hockey team to a
2-1 victory against rival Rensselaer on Saturday night in front of
a sold out Messa Rink crowd. The goal secured the Dutchmen's fifth
straight Capital Skates Trophy victory and moved Union into a
sixth-place tie with St. Lawrence and Clarkson in the ECAC Hockey
standings. Union is now 7-8-1 in the conference with a 14-12-2
overall record. RPI, now in 10th place, goes to 5-10-1 in ECACH and
6-20-2 overall.
The game-winning play began with senior defenseman Mike Harr moving
the puck from behind Union's goal to sophomore forward
Stéphane Boileau on the right end boards. After tipping the
puck ahead, Zajac carried the puck through the neutral zone and
into RPI's end where he fired his fifth goal of the season and
second game-winner past the glove of freshman Allen York.
Boileau picked up his 12th assist and 20th point of the season,
while Harr earned his first point of the year and 14th of the
season.
Junior defenseman Mike Wakita picked up his second career goal,
while junior defenseman Mike Schreiber and junior forward Mario
Valery-Trabucco each tallied assists.
Sophomore goaltender Corey Milan extended his shutout streak to
119:29 minutes before giving up a goal in the third period. He
turned aside 14 shots to improve to 14-12-2 on the year and 20-20-8
all-time.
The first period mirrored both team's efforts from the pervious
night with both teams coming up big on the penalty kill. Union
fought off three RPI man-advantages, while the Engineers killed the
Dutchmen's lone power play.
York, playing in only his seventh career game, robbed sophomore
forward Adam Presizniuk of only the fifth penalty shot in Union
history. After Engineer junior Erik Burgdoerfer hauled down
Presizniuk on a breakaway, the Union-leading scorer deked and went
wide on York, who grabbed the backhand attempt out of the air. The
freshman finished with 20 saves.
Just like Friday night's game, a Union defenseman broke the
scoreless tie early in the second period. Wakita notched his second
career goal on a one-timer setup by Schreiber 4:30 into the period.
Valery-Trabucco picked up the second helper, his career-best 13th
assist of the year.
RPI drought of 167:01 of scoreless hockey against the
Dutchmen was snapped at 3:21 of the third period with a goal by
sophomore Chase Polacek. The play was setup by sophomore Tyler
Helfrich and freshman Patrick Cullen.
Both penalty kill units kept the board clean by denying six man
advantages each.
The Dutchmen now turn their focus to the Friday, Feb. 13 game
against Yale, which will be broadcast national on the NHL Network
and locally on Time Warner Sports Channel 3. The game, which will
be played at Messa Rink, begins at 7:30 p.m.












