Dutchmen complete perfect weekend, 5-2

Box Score

by Ryan Fay

Second-ranked Union used a three-goal second period to pull away from Maine, 5-2, in a non-conference game Saturday at Alfond Arena.

The victory completed a perfect weekend for Union, which beat Maine, 3-0, on Friday. The win moved Union to 4-0 on the season, marking the first time the Dutchmen opened a season 4-0 since 2003-04. Maine fell to 0-4.

Going back to last season, Union has won 16 consecutive games and is 20-0-1 over its last 21 contests.

With the game even at 1-1, sophomore forward Michael Pontarelli scored a power-play goal at 5:48 of the second when he banged his own rebound between the pads of Maine goalie Sean Romeo.

Just under two minutes later, freshman forward Ryan Scarfo recorded his first collegiate goal when he beat Romeo with a blast from the right circle to put Union ahead 3-1. The goal chased Romeo from the game.

Maine backup goalie Matt Morris didn't fare much better. Senior forward Daniel Ciampini's second goal of the game extended Union's lead to 4-1 at 12:47. Ciampini was in front of the net when he redirected a centering pass from Mike Vecchione, who finished with three assists and his fourth consecutive multi-point game to start the season.

Freshman defenseman JC Brassard increased Union's edge to 5-1 at 8:44 of the third when he unleashed a slap shot from just inside the blueline. The power-play tally was his first goal at the collegiate level.

Union grabbed a quick 1-0 lead after Ciampini lit the lamp just 51 seconds into the game on a give-and-go with sophomore defenseman Jeff Taylor. Maine's Cam Brown evened the score at 3:57 of the second with a power-play goal and later added a harmless goal at 17:38 of the third.

Senior goaltender Colin Stevens finished with 27 saves before being replaced by sophomore Alex Sakellaropoulos midway through the third. Stevens record his 41st career win with Union, moving the Niskayuna native past Troy Grosenick and into second place on the program's Division I era goalie wins list.

The game was unusually chippy with the teams combining for 45 penalty minutes. Maine's Nolan Vesey accounted for 15 of them after he was ejected from the game for spearing Union senior forward Sam Coatta at 13:51 of the second.

End notes... Stevens picked up his first collegiate point (an assist) on Scarfo's goal... Stevens also recorded his first collegiate penalty on a cross-checking call at 14:39 of the second... the win pushed Union's winning streak against Hockey East opponents to 10 games dating back to Dec. 2012.

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