Dutchmen Fight Back but Lose in Overtime
SCHENECTADY, NY -- The Union
College men's ice hockey team had one of its biggest comebacks in
program history spoiled by a power-play goal with 1:29 left in
overtime, giving Sacred Heart a 6-5 victory Saturday at Messa Rink.
The Dutchmen erased a four goal deficit with 7:04 remaining with
four goals on seven shots. Senior forward Jason Walters knotted his
second goal of the game with 1:23 remaining in regulation to pull
the score even at 5-5. The Pioneers' Nick Johnson picked the
upper-right corner for the game-winner, moving his team to 1-1-0 on
the year. Union goes to 3-2-1.
Union's comeback began with the team trailing 5-1. Sophomore
forward Kelly Zajac found a lose puck at the top of the crease for
his first goal of the season igniting the Dutchmen. Moments later
with 3:54 left, freshman forward Wayne Simpson made it 5-3 when he
picked a corner on a semi-breakaway.
With the momentum tilted towards the Dutchmen, junior forward Adam
Presizniuk tipped in a shot from senior forward Mario
Valery-Trabucco with 2:58 on the clock, setting up Walters
game-tying goal with less than two minutes remaining. The senior
picked up the puck just in side his blue line, skated into the
offensive end and fired a slap shot past Sacred Heart goaltender
Steven Legatto.
A tripping call at 3:04 of the overtime period put the Pioneers on
the power-play, allowing Johnson to score his team-leading fourth
goal of the season.
The Dutchmen were led by Walter's two-goal performance -- the
fifth of his career -- and Valery-Trabucco's career-high tying
three assists. Presizniuk also registered a multi-point game with
his goal and assist on on Zajac's goal.
Sacred Heart was led by Johnson and David Berude, who each had a
pair of goals. In all five Pioneers registered multi-point
games.
Between the pipes, junior goaltender Corey Milan made 17 stops in
two regulation periods and overtime. He replaced freshman
goaltender Keith Kinkaid, who made 13 stops in the first
period.
Playing in his first career game, Legatto made 36 stops for his
first career win.
The Dutchmen scored four goals on seven shots with 7:04 remaining
to erase a four goal deficit and force overtime, but a Sacred Heart
power-play goal with 1:29 remaining in overtime gave the visitors a
6-5 win Saturday night at Messa Rink.












