Dutchmen fall 3-2 to RPI in rematch

Box Score

by Ryan Fay

RPI picked up a weekend sweep of Route 7 rival Union with a 3-2 ECAC Hockey win Saturday at the Houston Field House.

Union's Ryan Scarfo scored a goal in the Dutchmen's
3-2 loss to RPI Saturday at the Houston Field House.
(credit: Union College Athletics)

With the sweep, RPI (3-4-0 overall, 2-0-0 ECACH) secured the Capital Skates Trophy for the second straight season.

Much like during their 5-1 win Friday at Messa Rink, the Engineers came out firing in the first period. They outshot the Dutchmen 17-6 in the first 20 minutes, including the last 12 shots of the frame. 

But Union (2-3-3, 0-2-0) goaltender Alex Sakellaropoulos kept the Dutchmen in the game by turning aside all 17, a stark contrast to Friday when he allowed three early goals and was yanked for Jake Kupsky.

The Engineers broke through in the second. A miscommunication between Sakellaropoulos and defenseman Noah Henry at the side of the net led to a turnover to RPI's Jake Wood. He sent the puck to Jared Wilson at the left-point, and Wilson beat Sakellaropoulos over the glove at 3:29.

Phil Hampton gave RPI a 2-0 lead three and a half minutes later after his bid from the right-point was knocked in by Union center Spencer Foo.

Union got on the board in the third. While on a power play, defenseman Sebastien Gingras cut RPI's advantage to 2-1 at 4:03 after his shot from the top of the right circle went off the crossbar and in.

The Engineers responded with a power play goal of their own midway through the third when Mark Miller knocked in a rebound of a Riley Bourbonnais shot.

Ryan Scarfo put Union within one at 3-2 with a tally at 12:46, but the Dutchmen couldn't find the equalizer.

Sakellaropoulos finished with 36 saves in the losing effort, while Jason Kasdorf racked up 27 for the Engineers.

Both team's power play units went 1-for-3.

After playing their first eight games of the season in the Capital District, Union will go on the road next weekend to face St. Lawrence on Friday and Clarkson on Saturday.

This and that: Union co-captain Mike Vecchione missed his second straight game. After Friday's game, Bennett said Vecchione is on the physically unable to perform list...

... Bennett made several lineup changes on Saturday. Forwards Theo Di Pauli, Tyler Hynes and Sebastian Vidmar and defenseman Greg Campbell were put in. Forwards Brett Supinski, Nick Cruice and Ryan Walker and defenseman JC Brassard were taken out.

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