Dutchmen rally to force 3-3 tie

Box Score

by Ryan Fay

Union picked up the boost it needed from an unlikely source before rallying for a 3-3 ECAC Hockey tie with eighth-ranked Cornell Saturday at Messa Rink.

Union's Nick DeSimone started
the Dutchmen's third period comeback.
(photo via Union College athletics)

After Mitch Vanderlaan scored a power-play goal that gave the Big Red a 3-1 lead at 8:52 of the second period, Dutchmen head coach Rick Bennett yanked Jake Kupsky after he allowed three goals on only 11 shots.

Bennett sent in Joe Young, Union's third-string goalie who entered play without even a second of playing time in his career. The freshman stopped Cornell's momentum, turning aside all 13 shots he faced the rest of the way.

"He provided a spark plug for us," Bennett said. "The way he came off that bench was like a rocket ship. I thought he was going to fly to the moon and then get in the crease. It was awesome. I think our guys fed off it.

"He’s always kept a great attitude. He’s never been up in my office asking, ‘I want to play. Why aren’t I playing?’ He’s been a terrific teammate, and he was rewarded for that."

Young's performance made it possible for Union to mount a comeback in third, and the Dutchmen did just that.

After Cornell's Eric Freschi was called for high-sticking at 15:24, Bennett pulled Young to create a 6-on-4 advantage. Nick DeSimone cut the Big Red's lead to 3-2 just over a minute later after unleashing a wrister from the top of the right circle that found its way through traffic and into the back of the net.

Spencer Foo notched the game-tying goal at 17:28 after he beat Big Red goalie Mitch Gillam short-side.

"We had the puck deep and then [Sebastian Vidmar] drew a couple of guys towards him," Foo said. "He was able to get it to me and I just took it to the net. I took a shot on the ice and somehow it found its way into the net."

Cornell (6-2-1 ECACH, 11-3-3 overall) found some life in overtime, outshooting Union 5-1. But Young denied all five bids.

"It’s huge, especially when your goalie’s back there making saves that he’s got to make, especially when we’re making a mistake or two," DeSimone said. "He’s the reason we came back and tied that game. It’s nice to know that we have ‘Younger’ back there in the stable."

Even though Union (2-7-3, 9-8-6) didn't get the win, Young looked on the bright side.

"It would have been nice to get the win," said Young, who was a two-time all-star with the USPHL's Philadelphia Junior Flyers before coming to Union. "But, obviously, our team battled back, and that was huge. It was a great game for the team overall. I’m just happy to be a part of it."

Young's performance has given Bennett something to think about in goal. Regular starter Alex Sakellaropoulos has a 4.50 goals-against average since the calendar turned to 2016, and Kupsky has allowed seven combined goals in his last two outings.

Who will be in net next Saturday when the Dutchmen take on rival RPI in the non-league Mayor's Cup at the Times Union Center?

"I can’t sit here and tell you who's playing Saturday," Bennett said. "But it’s a nice problem to have."

POSTGAME REACTION

Union's Sebastian Vidmar, Spencer Foo and Nick DeSimone

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Union's Joe Young

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Union coach Rick Bennett

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Cornell coach Mike Schafer

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