Box Score
TROY, N.Y. – Freshman John Simpson (Boxborough, MA/Lawrence Academy) had a goal and an assist and Union College scored two goals in each of the first two periods on its way to a 4-1 win over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in an ECAC Hockey game at the Houston Field House. The Dutchmen have now won six straight games to improve to 10-8-3 overall and 5-3-2 in the league. The Engineers have dropped nine in a row to fall to 8-14-3 and 3-6-2.
After RPI took an early 1-0 lead, the Dutchmen wasted little time in coming back, pulling ahead by a 2-1 margin after the first period. Simpson knotted the score when he converted a pass from Justin Pallos (Glastonbury, CT/Boston Jr. Bruins) past RPI netminder Mathias Lange (Klagenfurst, Austria/New York Apple Core) at 7:42.
Freshman Stephane Boileau (Blainville, PQ/Ste. Jerome Panthers) gave the visitors the lead less than five minutes later after he flipped the puck up into the top left corner of the net off a pass from junior Lane Caffaro (Slave Lake, AB/Ft. McMurray Oil Barons). Simpson was awarded the secondary assist on the goal, a power play marker at 12:25.
The Dutchmen continued to build their lead in the second period after senior Josh Coyle (Brooklyn, OH/New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs) lifted the puck beyond the reach of Lange at 4:27. Caffaro and junior Matt Cook (Belle Mead, NJ/Tabor Academy) were awarded the assists on the tally.
Sophomore Mario Valery-Trabucco (Montreal, PQ/Northwood School) pushed Union ahead 4-1 after his shot from the middle of the slot ricocheted in off the left post. Boileau and freshman Adam Presizniuk (Calgary, AB/Powell River Kings) earned the assists on the goal.
Rensselaer senior Jonathan Ornelas (Mississauga, ON/Milton IceHawks) gave the Engineers a 1-0 lead at 6:47 of the opening period after breaking through the Union defense for a quick wrist shot over the left shoulder of goaltender Justin Mrazek (Regina, SK/Estevan Bruins). Sophomore Paul Kerins (Weston, ON/North York Rangers), who chipped the puck just over the blueline to Ornelas, was credited with the lone assist.
Union, which outshot the Engineers, 28-25, in the contest, saw Mrazek post 24 saves to improve to 6-3-0 on the season. Lange also finished with 24 stops in the game and falls to 4-8-2.
RPI returns to action next weekend when it travels to North Country rivals Clarkson and St. Lawrence on Friday and Saturday, respectively. Both games begin at 7pm. Union also returns next weekend at St. Lawrence and Clarkson.
