Big Red ends Union's season in OT

Box Score

by Ryan Fay

Matt Buckles scored in overtime to lift Cornell to a 2-1 win and a series sweep of Union in their best-of-three ECAC Hockey opening round playoff series Saturday at Lynah Rink.

Matt Wilkins scored Union's lone goal in
its season-ending loss to Cornell Saturday
at Lynah Rink.
(photo: Union College athletics)

With the loss, Union finishes the season at 13-14-9. It marks the program's first season with a losing record since 2006-07, when it went 14-19-3. That was also the last season the Dutchmen didn't make it to the second round of the ECACH tournament.

Cornell (15-9-7) advances to the second round of the league tournament next weekend against a to be determined opponent.

Buckles broke a 1-1 tie and scored the game-winner at 3:18 of overtime. He drove in on goal from the right wing before sliding a backhander inside the far post to give the Big Red the series-clinching victory.

The Big Red opened the scoring at 10:25 of the second period after Ryan Bliss' shot from the point bounced off a Union defender and went past goaltender Alex Sakellaropoulos.

Matt Wilkins' power play goal tied the score at 1-1 midway through the third. Cornell goalie Mitch Gillam made a stop on a wrister from Brett Supinski, but the rebound found its way to Wilkins in the slot and he sent it into the back of the net.

The tally was the only bright spot for Union's power play, which went 1-for-5 on the night including a 5-on-3 chance in the first. The Dutchmen's power play went 1-for-8 in the series.

Wilkins' goal snapped Gillam's postseason shutout streak at 109:04. Gillam finished the series with 59 saves on 60 shots, including 32 stops in game two.

Sakellaropoulos nearly matched Gillam between the pipes. He made 26 saves in game two and 47 on 50 shots in the series.

The contest was Union's 14th overtime game of the season, a program record. The Dutchmen went 2-3-9 in extra session games this season.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS (courtesy Cornell athletics)

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