Getting a strong start was Colorado College’s focus in Friday’s season and home opener versus Union.
And a good start it was, as Brett Sterling scored a pair of goals and the Tigers topped the Dutchmen, 4-2, in front of 5,507 at the World Arena in the first-ever meeting between the two teams.
“One of our points of emphasis was to get off to a good start,” said CC head coach Scott Owens. “I think that was a key to the game.”
CC’s first shot came 16 seconds into the first period and the Tigers never looked back, putting 43 shots on Union netminder Kris Mayotte before the game was over.
Sterling opened scoring for CC on the power play at the 2:27 mark. Last season’s leading scorer, Marty Sertich, and Joey Crabb assisted on the play to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead early in the first.
CC scored again at 13:59, as junior defenseman Brady Greco skated up the right side and put a wrister high behind Mayotte’s stick side on a pass from Derek Patrosso and Jack Hillen to put the Tigers up 2-0 at the end of one.
After a slow first period, in which Union only put three shots on CC goaltender Curtis McElhinney, the Dutchmen turned it up a notch in the second stanza, getting on the board on the power play at 2:06. With a crowd in front of the net, Jonathan Poirier shoveled in a rebound shot from Scott Seney and Jason Ortolano to bring the Dutchmen within one.
Despite Union’s improving throughout the game, CC notched a couple more goals to secure the win. Sterling got his second at 6:45 on a pass from behind the net from Patrosso and once again the Tigers were up by two.
“We’re still learning about our freshmen,” said Owens. “I thought [Patrosso] was one of the best players on the ice tonight.”
The third period saw another goal by each team. At 5:31, Sertich took a pass from Tiger captain Mark Stuart, skated it up the right side, cut in front of the net and tipped it above Mayotte’s stick. Union got a late goal from its captain, Jordan Webb, at 18:30 from Olivier Bouchard and Poirier to bring the final tally to 4-2.
The two teams will face off again Saturday night at World Arena at 7:05 p.m. MT.
