ECAC Hockey

SCHENECTADY, NY – Senior forward Wayne Simpson and freshman forward Nick Cruice scored to help lift No. 17 men’s ice hockey (11-8-4, 5-4-2 ECAC Hockey) to a 2-1 win over No. 20 Colgate (11-9-2, 3-6-1 ECAC Hockey) in front of 2,217 fans at Messa Rink.

Junior goaltender Troy Grosenick (7-6-4) made 25 stops to earn the victory in net, as Union snapped a three game home winless streak (0-2-1) and improved to 18-5-4 in its last 27 ECAC Hockey home games.

Colgate goaltender Spencer Finney made 32 saves, as Union outshot the Raiders 34-26 for the night.

Midway through the second period, with Union holding a 1-0 lead, Colgate tied the score on the power play, as Cruice was sent to the penalty box for elbowing at 8:34. On the ensuing man advantage, Colgate’s Robbie Bourdon fed Jeremy Price in the slot, and Price beat Grosenick over the shoulder with a wrist shot at 10:14 to tie the game.

Union would answer just minutes later, as Cruice atoned for his penalty with his second goal of the season. Sophomore defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere fed Cruice who skated down the left wing into the offensive zone. Cruice fired a wrist shot off the far post and into the net at 13:07 to give the Dutchmen a 2-1 lead.

Grosenick came up with a key stop moments later, robbing Joe Wilson’s one-timer from the circle with a glove save at 15:04.

Despite three Union penalties in the third period, the Dutchmen controlled play, protecting their one-goal lead in the final frame. Union outshot Colgate 15-8 in the third period.

Finney kept Colgate within striking distance, smothering senior defenseman Ryan Forgaard’s drive midway through the period and making a great stop on sophomore forward Max Novak’s backhander from three feet away with 5:01 to play.

With Union on a late power play, Grosenick made another good stop with a right pad save on a shorthanded break for Colgate’s John Lidgett with 1:29 left to play.

Union got off to a strong start in the opening period of play, outshooting Colgate 8-1 through the first 13:00 of the contest.

Simpson would score his team leading 11th goal of the season after an errant Colgate pass led to a breakaway. Simpson cut to his backhand and beat Finney at 16:26 to put Union up 1-0 and extend his point streak to four games.

Union will host Harvard (5-10-1, 3-8-0 ECAC Hockey) on Tuesday night at Messa Rink in a 7:00 p.m. contest.