Box Score

ALBANY, N.Y. – Freshman Matt Wilkins scored a power-play goal at 19:23 to lead the 19th-ranked Union College men's hockey team to a, 3-2, victory over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), this evening in the inaugural Mayor's Cup game, in front of 5,959 at the Times Union Center. With the win, the Dutchmen improve to 13-8-4, while the Engineers drop to 8-11-5.

Union junior Josh Jooris (Burlington, ON/Burlington Cougars) sent a hard pass across the low slot for Wilkins, who tapped the puck past the sprawling attempt of RPI freshman netminder Jason Kasdorf (Winnipeg, MB/Des Moines Buccaneers) for eventual game-winning tally. The goal, which came with just 47 seconds left in the third period, was Wilkin's third of the year.

The Dutchmen opened the scoring at 3:34 of the first, when sophomore Daniel Ciampini (Concord, ON/St. Michael's Buzzers) lifted the rebound of a Greg Coburn (Shaunavon, SA/Yorkton Terriers) over the right pad of Kasdorf for a power-play goal – his eighth of the season.

Rensselaer pulled even, 16 seconds into the second stanza, as sophomore Ryan Haggerty (Stamford, CT/U.S. National Development Team) buried a rebound off a shot from the slot by senior captain CJ Lee (Staten Island, NY/Green Bay Gamblers). Fellow senior Nick Bailen (Fredonia, NY/Indiana Ice) also earned an assist on Haggerty's team-leading 10th goal of the year.

Coburn put Union up 2-1 at 1:51 of the third period, when his shot from the right point found its way through traffic and past Kasdorf. Senior Wayne Simpson (BoxBorough, MA/Lawrence Academy) and sophomore Shayne Gostisbehere (Margate, FL/South Kent School) earned the helpers.

Sophomore Mark McGowan (Toronto, ON/Oakville Blades) evened the score (2-2) at the 15:36 mark of the third, when he swept in a rebound off a shot by Lee from the right side.

Union junior netminder Troy Grosenick (Brookfield, WI/Cedar Rapids Rough Riders) earned the win, making 36 saves, while Kasdorf made 17 stops at the other end of the ice.

The Engineers are back on the ice next Friday and Saturday when they host Harvard (7pm) and Dartmouth (7pm), respectively, at the Houston Field House. Saturday's match-up with the Big Green will be the 36th Annual Big Red Freakout!