Dutchmen, Crimson fit to be tied

Box Score

by Ryan Fay

A look back at Union's 4-4 tie with eighth-ranked Harvard Friday at Messa Rink:

Foo shines

Union's Spencer Foo had a goal and three assists
in Friday's 4-4 tie against No. 8 Harvard
(photo credit: Union athletics)

Union sophomore forward Spencer Foo had a whale of a game with a goal and three assists.

He put the Dutchmen on the board with 14.9 seconds left in the first period, cutting Harvard's lead to 2-1 after getting past three Crimson players and sending a backhander past goalie Merrick Madsen.

Foo helped Union tie the game at 2-2 at 11:03 of the second after his shot from the top of the right circle hit Ryan Scarfo's skate and went in. Just over a minute later, Foo assisted on Sebastian Vidmar's goal that put Union ahead 3-2.

Harvard tied the game at 1:25 of the third on a goal from Michael Floodstrand. But Foo capped his night by sending a feed to Ryan Scarfo, who roofed a backhander past Madsen just over two minutes later to put Union up 4-3.

Despite setting a single-game career high in points, Foo didn't think it was his best outing.

“It’s not about the four points,” Foo said. “I think I’ve played better games than that. Some games, the pucks just don’t go in the net. Tonight was one of those nights where the puck seemed to be going in. That’s just the way hockey works.”

The performance snuck up on Union head coach Rick Bennett, who was surprised to learn after the game that Foo had a four point night.

“It just goes into what we talked about, playing for each other,” Bennett said. “We just asked for guys to play 200 feet tonight. I thought we did that, for the most part. Spencer is one of those guys that leads the charge. He always competes and works hard, and sets and example for the guys on the bench. He’s very good on the bench, which helps us out a lot.”

Foo is tied with Scarfo for the team lead in scoring with five goals and five assists in 14 games.

Vidmar gets his first collegiate goal

Vidmar's goal was the first of his young collegiate career.

Vidmar, the reigning Most Valuable Player of the North American Hockey League, picked up the tally after crashing the net and banging the puck home.

“I did think he had a good game,” Bennett said of the freshman. “I thought the speed of the game, at times, can catch guys, but that’s how you grow.”

Bennett also credited Vidmar for helping to set up Foo's tally in the waning seconds of the first.

“He finished his hit on Jimmy Vesey,” Bennett said. “That play started with Sebastian Vidmar doing exactly what we wanted.”

Infirmary report

Union played without freshman winger Cole Maier.

And it sounds like Maier's absence could last more than a one game. Bennett said Maier is "probably doubtful" for tonight's game against Dartmouth due to a lower-body injury.

Maier, who has a goal in seven games, previously missed five contests in October with a knee injury.

Maier was replaced in the lineup by blueliner Sebastian Gingras, who more or less served as the team's seventh defenseman.

Harvard forward Alexander Kerfoot left the game after getting hurt in a freaky play following a faceoff with 3:15 left in overtime. Crimson head coach Ted Donato didn't offer any details about the injury in his postgame press conference.

If Kerfoot misses an extended period of time, it would be a big loss to the Crimson. The New Jersey Devils draftee is second on the team in scoring with two goals and 11 assists in nine games.

Postgame audio

Harvard coach Ted Donato

Free Music - Listen Audio Files - Harvard postgame - 12/4/15

Union coach Rick Bennett

Music podcasts - Share Audio - Rick Bennett postgame - 12/4...

Union forwards Ryan Scarfo and Spencer Foo 

Embed Music - Listen Audio Files - Union players postgame - 12/...

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