Two Jason Walters’ goals helped propel the Union College Dutchmen (11-8-1, 4-4-0 ECAC Hockey) to a 4-2 victory over the Quinnipiac University Bobcats in ECAC Hockey action Saturday night.
“I’m disappointed,” said Quinnipiac coach Rand Pecknold. “Two of the goals, we didn’t block shots. If you don’t block shots, you don’t win games.”
Union took an early 1-0 lead when Walters scored a one handed tip-in goal off the left post 3:41 into the first. Kelly Zajac fed Brock Matheson for a one-timer blast from the blue line that Walter tipped in for the lead.
Quinnipiac (11-7-2, 6-4-2 ECAC Hockey) answered with just over six minutes remaining in the first with Andrew Meyer’s second goal of the season. Kevin Bui, in his first collegiate game, fed Meyer from the circle to the left of Union’s Corey Milan. Meyer corralled the puck and wristed a shot through traffic and found its way into the goal.
The Dutchmen took the lead back on Walter’s second goal of the game when Quinnipiac’s Dan Clarke was unable to find the loose puck in the crease. After a shot taken by Stephan Boileau, Clarke was unable to control the puck and it fell into the crease. Both teams swatted at the puck as it crossed the goal line at 16:25.
Union extended the lead off of a faceoff to the right of Clarke. Boileau won the draw to Walters, who fed Mike Wakita. He then controlled the puck and fired it on goal. Adam Presizniuk, in front of the net, deflected the shot in for the two goal lead.
Quinnipiac cut the lead in half with an Eric Lampe tally. David Marshall received a pass at the blue line on a change and came in and fed Lampe the puck. Lampe took the shot that was saved by Milan, but battled in front and poked the puck through the five-hole 8:39 into the second. Matt Sorteberg also was credited with an assist on the goal.
With just under two minutes remaining in regulation, Mario Valery-Trabucco added a two-on-one goal when John Simpson fed him a pass coming into the zone and Valery-Trabucco went top shelf glove side with 1:40 remaining.
“We’re such a solid team,” said Pecknold. “If we want to win, we need to compete and we didn’t do that.”
It’s the third time the two squads have faced off this season. In the first meeting, both the first game for each, Union took a 6-5 overtime win in the opening game of the Mutual of Omaha Stampede Tournament. In the second meeting, the Bobcats took a 6-3 win in Schenectady, N.Y.
The all-time record now stands at 8-4-1, with the Bobcats holding the advantage.
Clarke made 16 saves in the loss, while Milan made 22 in the win.
Quinnipiac takes a week off from conference play as they take to the road to take on Niagara, while Union hosts Cornell and Colgate.
