Third-Period Comeback Gives UMass Win Over Dutchmen

Final	1	2	3	Final
Union (8-4-5)	1	2	0	3
Massachusetts (11-5-0)	0	1	3	4

Scoring Summary
1st - 15:57	PP - Walters, Jason (Union)
2nd - 12:11	SYNER, T.J. (Massachusetts)
2nd - 13:46	SH - Buote, Andrew (Union)
2nd - 19:53	PP - Welsh, Jeremy (Union)
3rd - 05:37	WELLMAN, Casey (Massachusetts)
3rd - 06:58	ORTIZ, Will (Massachusetts)
3rd - 15:21	WELLMAN, Casey (Massachusetts)

Union	Massachusetts
G: 3 Players (#9, #14, #27 - 1) A: Greg Coburn - 2 Sh: M. Valery-Trabucco - 6 Sv: Keith Kinkaid - 17	G: WELLMAN, Casey - 2 A: MARCOU, James - 3 Sh: WELLMAN, Casey - 5 Sv: DAINTON, Paul - 36

TEAM STATISTICS	Union	Massachusetts
Power Plays	2 for 4	0 for 2
Shorthanded Goals	1	0
Penalties (min)	3 (6)	5 (13)
Shots on Goal	39	21
Face Offs Won	35	27

full stats

STORRS, CT -- Three third-period goals by the 15th-ranked University of Massachusetts men's ice hockey team (11-5-0) halted the 18th-ranked Union College Dutchmen's nine-game unbeaten streak with 4-3 loss on Tuesday afternoon at the 2009 Toyota UConn Classic. Despite three special teams' goals by the Dutchmen, the Minutemen prevailed, erasing 3-1 third period deficit.

UMass sophomore's Casey Wellman's second goal of the game and 15th of the season with 4:39 remaining proved to be the game-winner.

The Dutchmen's offensive attack was led by power-play goals by senior Jason Walters and freshman Jeremy Welsh, which complemented junior Andrew Buote's second career shorthanded goal. Walters extended his scoring streak to a career-best eight games with his eighth goal of the season, while Welsh picked up his fifth goal.

Freshman forward Greg Coburn registered a career-high two assists, while senior Mike Schreiber earned his ninth assist and 13th point of the season.

A 5-on-3 power play led to the Dutchmen's first goal with Walters scoring on a one-timer from just inside the right circle. Schreiber and sophomore Kelly Zajac controlled the puck atop of the left circle and Zajac allowed a pass to go through his skates to Walters at 15:57.

Union took advantage of a UMass hitting from behind penalty and a five-minute elbowing call to give them a two-man advantage. Freshman goaltender Keith Kinkaid took the elbow while playing the puck at the left halfwall. Moments earlier he had kept the game scoreless when he made a sliding, left-pad save on a one-timer by Wellman. Kinkaid made seven stops in the opening period.

After UMass sophomore T. J. Snyer made it 1-1 at 12:11 of the second period, Buote gave Union its second lead of the game. Coburn gained possession in the defensive zone, fired a clearing shot towards center ice where Buote skated in on the breakaway, beating UMass's Dan Meyers blocker side at 13:46.

The game appeared to be heading to a 2-1 second intermission, but an outlet pass by Coburn to Welsh gave Union a 3-1 advantage with seven seconds remaining.

The Minutemen came out gunning in the third with goal by sophomore Casey Wellman and senior Will Ortiz at 5:37 and 6:58, respectively.

Union freshman #Keith Kinkaid made 17 saves, going to 5-2-2 on the year. At the other end Meyers turned away 36 shots.

Union play the second game of the tournament on Wednesday, Dec. 30 at 4:05 p.m./7:05 p.m. against the winner/loser of the UConn-Bentley game.