PROVIDENCE, R.I.—The Union College men’s ice hockey team skated to a 2-2 ECAC Hockey tie with Brown, Saturday night at Meehan Auditorium. The Dutchmen, who lead Division I with 11 overtime games this season, go to 10-9-7 overall and 3-7-4 in ECAC Hockey, while the Bears go to 4-13-3 overall and 2-10-3 in league play.
J.C. Brassard and Brett Supinski each scored for Union. Ryan Walker and Brendan Taylor both recorded a point for the second consecutive game with an assist, and Mike Vecchione and Nick DeSimone each added a helper. In goal, Alex Sakellaropoulos made 31 saves on 33 shots
Nick Lappin and Andrew Doane had a goal each for Brown. In goal, Tim Ernst turned away 38 of 40 shots.
Brassard gave Union a 1-0 lead 5:27 into the game with his first tally of the season. Taylor won a battle on the boards and Walker fed the puck to the blue line, setting up Brassard’s blast from the point that found its way through traffic and into the bottom corner.
The Dutchmen controlled play for the majority of the first, but Lappin brought things level with 6:25 left in the frame. Sakellaropoulos made a sprawling save with his right pad to deny Charlie Corcoran’s breakaway attempt, but Lappin was there to punch in the rebound for his 100th career point.
The Bears continued to build on the momentum, pulling in front at 5:53 of the second. Doane collected a long shot off the end boards and jammed the rebound in off the post for his second of the year.
Supinski provided the responded for the Dutchmen in the last minute of the stanza, potting his third power-play goal of the season. Ernst kicked out Vecchione’s shot from the slot right onto Supinski’s stick and he made no mistake, slotting home a wrist shot at 19:26.
The two teams combined for 24 shots in the third period, but Ernst and Sakellaropoulos couldn’t be solved, forcing the game to go to overtime.
Union had a 2-on-1 chance in the opening seconds of the extra frame but Supinski’s pass just missed the outstretched stick of Vecchione.
The Bears took a penalty with 1:39 left in overtime, but the Brown penalty kill came up big, keeping the Dutchmen off the scoresheet to secure the 2-2 tie.
Union finished with a season-high 40 shots, while Brown compiled 33.
The Dutchmen return to Messa Rink for a pair of ECAC Hockey games next weekend. Union hosts Clarkson at 7 p.m., Friday, Feb. 5 before facing St. Lawrence at 7 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 6.
