Broncos rout Dutchmen in tourney final

Box Score 

by Ryan Fay

Western Michigan scored four first period goals en route to an easy 8-2 win over Union in the championship game of the Shillelagh Tournament Saturday in South Bend, Ind.

The eight goals were the most given up by Union since an 8-0 loss to Colgate on Feb. 16, 2008.

Tyler LaPorte put the Broncos on the board when he scored the first of his three goals -- all on the power-play -- at 3:31 of the first. Colton Hargrove made it 2-0 at 12:47, just 11 seconds before J.T Osborn extended the Broncos' lead to 3-0. Sheldon Dries' power-play tally at 16:15 pushed the lead to 4-0 and prompted Union coach Rick Bennett to yank goalie Colin Stevens for Alex Sakellaropoulos.

Union bookended the second period scoring with power-play goals from Roman Ammirato and Jeff Taylor. Ammirato registered his first collegiate goal at 8:55 and Taylor lit the lamp at 19:19. But LaPorte sealed his hat trick with a pair of power-play tallies in between.

Dries notched his second power-play marker of the game at 8:21 of the third to up Western Michigan's cushion to 7-2. Matt Stewart tacked on a tally at 18:59.

Western Michigan (5-8-1) cashed in five times on 10 power-play opportunities while Union (7-6-1) went 2-for-10 on the man advantage.

Stevens allowed four goals on 12 shots before being relieved by Sakellaropoulos, who let in four more on 20 shots the rest of the way.

Lukas Hafner finished with 38 saves for Western Michigan, which also received five assists from Justin Kovacs.

Western Michigan remains undefeated in five all-time meetings (3-0-2) against Union.

The No. 17 Dutchmen resume ECAC Hockey play next weekend when they travel to Brown (Dec. 5) and Yale (Dec. 6).

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