Tonight’s nationally televised game between Union and Clarkson had the possibility of being a blowout in favor of the Dutchmen, as they came into the game with the second-ranked offense in the ECAC and their opponent sported the league’s worst goals-against average.
Behind a hat trick by Mario Valery-Trabucco, the Dutchmen set a program record for goals in one game in an 11-2 slaughter of the Golden Knights.
“Tonight it seemed to all kind of happen for us,” said Union coach Nate Leaman.
“It feels good to break out of the slump,” said Union forward Adam Presizniuk. “We had our foot on the gas pedal and didn’t let up.”
The game started at a fast and furious pace, as six goals were scored within the first 12 minutes of the game.
Clarkson started the scoring 20 seconds into the opening frame on their first shot of the game when Corey Tamblyn put a backhand shot through the pads of Union goaltender Keith Kinkaid.
It just took 28 seconds for the Dutchmen to tie the game up when Luke Cain knocked in a pass from Nolan Julseth-White in front of the Clarkson net.
“Going down in the first 20 seconds is not how you want to start,” said Valery-Trabucco. “But, we battled back.”
The scoring calmed down for a bit until the Dutchmen struck again when the dynamic duo of seniors Valery-Trabucco and Jason Walters connected for a goal. From the right corner, Walters fed a gliding Valery-Trabucco in front of the Clarkson net. Valery-Trabucco received the Walters’ pass and deked from right to left and deposited the puck past Clarkson goaltender Paul Karpowich on a backhanded shot.
Just 27 seconds later, Tamblyn was called off for hooking, putting the Dutchmen on the power play. It only took the Union power-play unit three seconds to capitalize, as Walters ripped a one-timer from the right point past Karpowich.
The Dutchmen offense kept rolling, as they scored again about 3:30 seconds later, just as a Clarkson penalty expired. On a scrum in front of Karpowich, senior Jon Lareau knocked the puck into the back of the net for his second goal in as many weekends.
Less than a minute later, freshman defenseman Shawn Stuart scored his first career goal on a slap shot from the right point to put his team up 5-1 after only 10 shots. After this goal, Karpowich was replaced by Richie LaVeau in between the pipes.
Union kept up the scoring touch, as they put three pucks past LaVeau in the second frame.
It only took them 1:50 to extend their lead, as Valery-Trabucco netted his 100th career point after receiving a long pass at the Golden Knights blue line from Walters. Once he picked up the puck, he skated down the right side and passed the puck towards the middle of the ice, where Adam Presizniuk was crashing hard to the net. The puck hit off of the Clarkson defender and into the net.
“It’s a good feeling to have 100 points in this league,” said the Montreal, Que. native. “It’s a really good league.”
With 6:37 left in the period, the scoring picked up again, as Kelly Zajac snuck a rebound off of a missed shot past LaVeau. After the goal, Corey Milan was put in charge of the Union goaltending duties.
The Dutchmen extended their lead to seven with 18.4 left in the middle frame when Jeremy Welsh scored his sixth goal of the season.
With the game out of reach, each team put in their third goaltenders for their first action of the season. Senior Rich Sillery was put in goal for the Dutchmen, while freshman Cody Rosen took over for the Golden Knights. However, it was the same story, as Union outscored Clarkson 3-1 in the period.
Presizniuk netted the first goal of the period when he fired a wrist shot over the glove of Rosen for a power-play goal.
Clarkson added a power-play goal of their own shortly after, when leading-scorer Matt Beca tipped a Scott Freeman shot through the pads of Sillery.
Valery- Trabucco completed the hat trick with 11 minutes remaining in regulation when Presizniuk slid the puck from behind the net to Valery-Trabucco’s stick at the right post, where he went on to slap the puck into the net.
“When he shoots the puck it’s great for our team,” said Coach Leaman.
Bodie finished the scoring when he wristed a shot off the post and past Rosen from the slot.
For the Dutchmen this game was an excellent way to halt their four-game winless streak, but for the Golden Knights it was an extension of their miserable season. 13 of the 18 Dutchmen skaters registered points, and nine of those players had multi-point games.
Tomorrow night, Union will welcome St. Lawrence, who trails the Dutchmen by one point in the ECAC standings, while Clarkson will travel to Troy to take on RPI.
“Tomorrow night’s going to be a real tough game,” said Coach Leaman. “We’re going to have our hands full.”
