Final Box
SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (12/4/09) – Ethan Cox (Richmond, B.C.) netted his first goal of the year, but it wasn't enough as Union downed Colgate 3-1, Friday evening in an ECAC Hockey clash at Messa Rink.
The Dutchmen, who improved to 7-3-4 overall and 3-0-2 in league play, cashed in twice on special teams – one shorthanded and the other on the power play.
Union struck first at 7:52 of the first period with a shorthanded goal by Mario Valery-Trabucco. Down 1-0, Colgate evened the score right before intermission as Jason Williams (Plattsburgh, N.Y.) and Kurtis Bartliff (Clinton, Ont.) each assisted on Cox's even strength goal at 19:01.
The Dutchmen took the lead for good early in the second period as Stephane Boileau scored a power play goal at 2:23, his fifth goal of the season. Union had a golden chance to gain a two-goal advantage near the midway point of the second period. At 9:40, Colgate goalie Alex Evin (Castlegar, B.C.) saved a penalty shot attempt by Valery-Trabucco. It was the first penalty shot against the Raiders since March 19, 2004 when former standout Steve Silverthorn stopped Clarkson's Chris Blight in an ECAC Hockey semifinal match-up.
However, Union eventually got that two-goal cushion as Jeremy Welsh scored his fourth of the year at 9:58 of the third.
Evin turned aside 18 of 20 shots before being replaced by Charles Long (Cleveland Heights, Ohio) after 43:55 of action. The senior stopped five of six Union attempts in a little over 14 minutes between the pipes. The Raiders played the final 1:47 of the contest with an extra attacker. Dutchmen goalie Keith Kinkaid saved 31 shots in the victory.
Union's power play went one of two on the evening, while Colgate's power play unit was held scoreless in two tries. It snapped a streak of nine-consecutive games in which the Raiders had scored at least once on the power play.
Colgate, which fell to 6-5-4 overall and 4-3-1 in league play, will attempt to salvage a split on the road, Saturday afternoon as it plays at Rensselaer. Game time is set for 4 p.m. in Troy.
