Liljegren's OT goal sends RPI past Union

Box Score

by Ryan Fay

The third time was the charm for RPI forward Viktor Liljegren.

With the game even at 1-1 in overtime, Liljegren made three attempts to jam the puck past Union goaltender Colin Stevens amid a scrum in front of the net.

His third try succeeded at 2:41 and RPI beat Union, 2-1, in front of a sold out crowd of 2,260 Saturday at Messa Rink.

The win gave the Engineers (2-0 ECAC Hockey, 3-5 overall) their first league-series sweep of No. 2/3 Union since the 2003-2004 season. They beat Union, 6-1, on Friday at the Houston Field House.

RPI forward Mark McGowan forced overtime with a tally at 16:11 of the third period. Union defenseman Jeff Taylor tried to make a pass to defensive partner Noah Henry from behind the Dutchmen net, but McGowan picked it off in the slot and blasted it past Stevens.

Union (0-2, 5-3) forward Spencer Foo scored the Dutchmen's only goal when he beat Jason Kasdorf with a shot from the right circle at 14:10 of the first.

Union failed to convert on any of its six power-play chances, including a double-minor against Lou Nanne in the latter stages of the second period and an interference penalty against Luke Curardi at 17:47 of the third. Through eight games, the Dutchmen are 6-for-40 on the power-play.

Kasdorf finished with 34 saves while Stevens stopped 25.

Union, which has lost three in a row for the first time since the 2010-2011 season, returns to Messa Rink next weekend to host Dartmouth (Nov. 7) and Harvard (Nov. 8).

Follow @UnionHockeyBlog