Dutchmen Continue Hot Play

Final	1	2	3	Final
Union (11-4-5, 5-0-3 ECAC)	1	3	3	7
Princeton (6-9-2, 3-7-1 ECAC)	1	1	1	3

Scoring Summary
1st - 08:19	Sdao, Michael (Princeton)
1st - 10:58	Buote, Andrew (Union)
2nd - 04:17	Zajac, Kelly (Union)
2nd - 07:18	Walters, Jason (Union)
2nd - 17:55	Fedun, Taylor (Princeton)
2nd - 19:09	PP - Valery-Trabucco, M. (Union)
3rd - 08:24	Bartlett, Dan (Princeton)
3rd - 11:46	Zajac, Kelly (Union)
3rd - 12:19	PP - Boileau, Stephane (Union)
3rd - 19:01	SH - EN - Buote, Andrew (Union)

Union	Princeton
G: 2 Players (#14, #19 - 2) A: 3 Players (#5, #20, #23 - 2) Sh: Kelly Zajac - 6 Sv: Keith Kinkaid - 37	G: 3 Players (#4, #9, #24 - 1) A: 2 Players (#14, #16 - 1) Sh: Dan Bartlett - 6 Sv: Alan Reynolds - 26

TEAM STATISTICS	Union	Princeton
Power Plays	2 for 7	0 for 4
Shorthanded Goals	1	0
Penalties (min)	6 (12)	8 (16)
Shots on Goal	33	40
Face Offs Won	38	45

full stats

PRINCETON, NJ -- A three-goal second period paced the 17th-ranked Union College men's ice hockey team (11-4-5) to a 7-3 victory at Princeton (6-9-2, 3-7-1) Friday night at Hobey Baker Rink. The win extends the Dutchmen's league unbeaten streak to eight games as Union improves to 5-0-3 in ECAC Hockey play and puts Union into a second-place tie with eighth-ranked Cornell (9 pts).

The Dutchmen received two goals from sophomore Kelly Zajac and junior Andrew Buote to compliment tallies from seniors Jason Walters and Mario Valery-Trabucco and junior Stephane Boileau. The game marked the 16th time this season Union has scored three or more goals. Walters added an assist to the scoresheet for his 99th career point -- one away from become the fourth Dutchmen in Division I history to reach the century mark.

Union avenged its quarterfinal, playoff-series loss to Princeton last season with its second-straight regular season win at Hobey Baker Rink. It did so by despite being outshot, 40-33.

After a 1-1 first period, Union unloaded for three goals in the second period grabbing the only need it would need. After ringing one off the post a few second earlier,  Zajac found the back of the net at 4:17 with a wrist shot from the left face-off circle. The goal was assisted by freshman Greg Coburn.

Walters extended his scoring streak to 11 games with his 12th goal of the season, which came on a third rebound try. Trabucco found Walters behind the net for a wrap-around chance, which was denied, but the second and third whack put Union up 3-1 at 7:18.

After Princeton's Taylor Fedun pulled the Tigers within one at 17:55, Trabucco took advantage of a 5-on-3 with less than two minutes remaining in the second. Walters fed to senior Mike Schreiber, who quickly dished to Trabucco in the slot at 19:08.

Princeton's leading scorer Dan Bartlett made it 4-3 at 8:24, Zajac scored on a breakaway at 11:46 and Boileau put the game out of reach on the power-play at 12:19.

Princeton, which was outshot 14-7 in the first period, opened the scoring in the game with a lucky bounce that deflected off a Union stick, jumped off the ice and over the blocker of freshman Keith Kinkaid at 8:29. The goal was credited to freshman Michael Sdao -- his second career goal.

Union responded moments later at 10:58 when a great individual effort on the forecheck by junior John Simpson led to junior Andrew Buote's third tally of the season. Simpson forced a turnover and found Buote just inside the right face-off dot.

The goal, which found the top-left corner, was Buote's eighth career goal and second all-time against Princeton -- he scored in game three of last season's quarterfinals. The assist was Simpson's ninth of the season, giving him 12 points on the year. Buote added and empty netter at 19:01 of the third.

Kinkaid turned away all but three of the Tigers tries for his sixth victory of the season -- he is now 6-2-2 overall and 5-0-1 in conference play.

The Dutchmen travel to first-place and 12th-ranked Quinnipiac on Saturday, Jan. 9 at 7 p.m. Union will than turn its focus to cross-town rival RPI, which comes to Messa Rink at 7:07 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 16. Tickets for that came can be purchased online at UnionAthleticsTickets.com.