Team Notes: No. 11/11 Union Set for UNH

SCHENECTADY, NY - No. 11/11 Union (2-0-3) returns to action against Hockey East power New Hampshire (0-4-1) at Whittemore Center Arena. This will mark the first meeting between the two teams since Oct. 31, 2003, when New Hampshire earned a 9-2 decision at home. New Hampshire owns a 4-1-0 lead in the all-time series, but Union's lone victory was certainly memorable. On January 28, 1977, in the midst of a program revival, Union, a Division III team, earned an 8-4 win over No. 2 New Hampshire at Messa Rink.

The Dutchmen are 3-1-0 in their last four games against Hockey East opponents, but have not faced an opponent from Hockey East since a 4-3 loss to Massachusetts on Dec. 29, 2009. Union's last win against a Hockey East opponent came on Oct. 10, 2009, a 6-3 win over Maine at Messa Rink.

»Point Streaks
Through five games this season, two Union players have recorded points in every contest this season. Sophomore defenseman Mat Bodie (one goal, five assists) and senior forward Kelly Zajac (two goals, six assists) have four-game point streaks heading into tonight's contest at RIT. Bodie is sixth in the nation in points per game among defensemen (1.20), and Zajac is 20th in the nation in points per game (1.60)

»Road Warriors
Union has established itself as one of college hockey's toughest road teams over the past two seasons. The Dutchmen are 20-10-4 in road contests over the past two-plus years, including a current 10 game road unbeaten streak (9-0-1) that extends back to the end of the 2010-11 season.

»Zajac Nears Union College Century Club, Assists Record
Senior forward Kelly Zajac is off to a great start this season with two goals and six assists in Union's first five contests. Zajac is currently 13th in the nation with an average of 1.20 assists per game, and now has 94 points (31 goals, 63 assists) for his career.

With six more points, Zajac will become the 20th member of the Union College Century Club, and just the seventh student-athlete in the Division I era to accomplish that feat. Zajac is also now in sole possession of fourth place on the school's Division I assist list, and trails Jason Walters '10 (73 assists), Joel Beal '05 (74 assists) and Adam Presizniuk '11 (83 assists).

»Scouting New Hampshire
UNH has struggled out of the gate replacing its offensive production as the team lost 187 points from last year's squad including its top four scorers, which accounted for 164 of those 187 points.

UNH's 0-4-1 start is its worst start since the 1987-88 start when the team was 0-5-1 over its first six games.

The Wildcats snapped a four-game losing streak with a 3-3 tie at St. Cloud State on Saturday night. New Hampshire controlled play for most of the night outshooting the Huskies 47-24 during the game.

Senior co-captain Mike Borisenok and alternate captain Stevie Moses made up two-thirds of one the team's top lines in 2010-11. This pair along with fellow senior Kevin McCarey comprises the veteran offensive core for UNH this season.

Senior co-captain Damon Kipp anchors a solid corps of defensive returnees. Juniors Brett Kostolansky and Connor Hardowa also provide leadership on the Wildcat blueline.

Senior Matt Di Girolamo emerged as one of the nation's top netminders in 2010-11. Di Girolamo logged a national-best 2,302:51 between the pipes and posted a 22-11-6 record with a school-record 1,145 saves, a .923 save percentage and a pair of shutouts in 2010-11. This season Di Girolamo is off to a tough start, with an 0-3-0 record, 5.20 goals against average and .825 save percentage.

»The Union-UNH Series
Friday's meeting will be the sixth all-time between the two schools and New Hampshire leads 4-1-0, including a 3-1-0 mark in the Division I era. Union is 0-2-0 all-time at Whittemore Center Arena.

»Last Meeting
New Hampshire's Jacob Micflikier scored four goals, including the game-winner, and assisted on another to propel UNH to a 9-2 non-conference victory against Union College at the Whittemore Center.

Joel Beal (current volunteer assistant coach) and A.J. Palkovich scored for the Dutchmen. Union's Kris Mayotte and Tim Roth combined for 23 saves in net.

UNH's Mike Ayers recorded 10 saves for UNH and allowed two goals in 53:28, then Jeff Pietrasiak went the rest of the way with one save. Fourteen Wildcats recorded at least one point. Preston Callander finished with three assists while Sean Collins, Nathan Martz and Tyson Teplitsky each finished with two assists to join Micflikier and Steve Saviano as multiple-point scorers.

Union trailed just 2-1 after the first period, but the Dutchmen were held to just one shot on goal in the second period, as UNH built a 4-1 lead. The Wildcats then erupted for five goals in the third period to cruise to put the game out of reach.

»The Union-AIC Series
No. 11/11 Union will celebrate the accomplishments of the 2010-11 season one final time when the Dutchmen host American International College on Banner Night at Messa Rink on Saturday night.

Union is 4-0-0 in the all-time series against AIC, including an 8-1 win over the Yellow Jackets last season on Dec. 10, 2010 at Messa Rink. The Dutchmen are 41-5-7 against Atlantic Hockey opponents in the Division I era

»Scouting AIC
AIC brings back ten players up front this season and adds five newcomers. The returners are led by senior captain Neilsson Arcibal and junior assistant captain Adam Pleskach who both skated in all 33 games last season. Junior forward Steve Mele currently leads the team in scoring with two goals and three assists in five games played.

The Yellow Jackets return five players on the blue line from last season in seniors Rob Blanchette and Luciano Primiani, juniors Jeff Ceccacci and Chris Markiewicz, and sophomore Whitney Olsen.

Junior Ben Meisner returns and is emerging as a legitimate No. 1 goaltender. He appeared in 27 of AIC's 33 games last season, posting a 7-17-1 record with a 3.70 goals against average and a .905 save percentage. This season, Meisner is 0-4-0 with a 3.52 goals against average and .907 save percentage in four starts.

»The Last Meeting
Jeremy Welsh recorded his first career hat trick, and Justin Pallos added two goals and an assist to lead Union to an 8-1 win against American International College on Dec. 10, 2010 in front of 1,391 at Messa Rink.

Corey Milan picked up his first win of the season, making 14 stops in net through just over two periods of play. Troy Grosenick played the final 14:26 of the third period in net.American International College forward Adam Pleskach scored the Yellow Jackets' lone goal of the night at 19:23 of the second period, beating Milan over the shoulder on a partial breakaway from the neutral zone.

Welsh capped off his night with Union's final score of game at 7:37 of the third period, poking a rebound past AIC goaltender Ryan Kerpan. Union outshot AIC 46-19 on the night and finished 1-for-2 on the power play, while holding the Yellow Jackets scoreless in their three power play attempts.