Dutchmen take season-opener, 7-3 (w/ 5 videos)

Box Score

by Ryan Fay

Last season ended on the highest of high's for Union as the Dutchmen captured the program's first national championship with a win over Minnesota.

This season isn't off to a bad start, either, as the fifth-ranked Dutchmen opened the regular season with a 7-3 win over visiting American International in front of a sold-out crowd of 2,254 Friday at Messa Rink.

Before the start of the game, the Dutchmen paid homage to last season's team with over sixty former players on hand to celebrate, including Mat Bodie, Shayne Gostisbehere and Cole Ikkala from last year's team. Banners were unfurled for last season's Cleary Cup, Whitelaw Cup, Frozen Four appearance and the national championship.

“It was awesome,” said Union sophomore defenseman Noah Henry. “It was real nice. To have the alums out there and see the banner raised, it was pretty special.”

American International tried its best to pop Union's balloon, taking a 2-1 lead deep into the second period. But Union scored twice in a 1:33 span to take a 3-2 lead and go ahead for good.

Sophomore forward Eli Lichtenwald started the spurt at 15:25 of the second when he fired a wrister past goalie Hunter Leisner's right pad. Henry gave Union the lead when his right-point shot deflected off an American International player and found the back of the net at 16:58. The goal was Henry's first at the collegiate level.

"I was shooting it on net and it hit off a defenseman," Henry said. "It felt good to get that monkey off the back and to go up 3-2."

The Dutchmen blew the game wide open in the third with four goals. Sophomore defenseman and Clifton Park native Jeff Taylor scored a power-play goal at 2:43 to push the lead to 4-2.

With freshman forward Kevin Shier off for tripping, sophomore forward Mike Vecchione and senior forward Daniel Ciampini connected for a highlight-reel shorthanded goal at 4:54. Ciampini led a 2-on-1 rush down the right wing and then he made a cross-ice pass to Vecchione, who buried it into the Yellow Jackets net to give Union a 5-2 cushion.

"We just have that chemistry together, we know where we are going to be," Vecchione said. "We kind of isolated on a guy and he (Ciampini) beat him. I just drove the net and knew I was going to get a pass from him."

Austin Orszulak responded on the power play to cut the Dutchmen lead to 5-3, but senior forward Sam Coatta and freshman forward Spencer Foo padded the lead with late goals.

Seven freshman dressed for Union and the group combined for a goal and five assists. It was welcome production, especially with three regulars (senior forward Max Novak and junior forwards Nick Cruice and Matt Wilkins) out due to suspensions.

"Those guys are out so we had freshmen step in and play really good for us," Vecchione said. "It's odd saying that with seven goals on the board and we definitely missed those guys, but it's good to get those rookies in there and get a ton of experience."

All in all, it was an encouraging opener, but Dutchmen head coach Rick Bennett isn't getting carried away.

"It's a good start, but by no means are we jumping up and down in that locker room," Bennett said.

Union returns to Messa Rink tonight at 7:30 against 19th-ranked New Hampshire.

End notes: Junior forward David Roy had a career-high three assists... he had five assists all of last year... Union fired 50 shots on net, which exceeded their single-game high from last season (49) ... Niskayuna native and senior goalie Colin Stevens had 23 saves.... Union moved to 7-0-0 all-time against American International... Seven different players scored for Union.

VIDEO

Noah Henry, David Roy, Mike Vecchione postgame



Rick Bennett postgame



Banner raising ceremony 



Spencer Foo's first collegiate goal 



Mike Vecchione's goal 



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