SPRINGFIELD, MASS.—Junior defenseman Nick DeSimone scored at 15:44 of the third period to lift the Union College men’s hockey team to a 5-4 win against American International College (AIC), Friday night at the MassMutual Center. The Dutchmen, who improve to 8-0-0 against AIC in their Division I era, go to 2-1-0, while the Yellow Jackets move to 0-1-0.
DeSimone had a career-high two goals to lead Union. Ryan Walker, Michael Pontarelli and Sebastian Vidmar each had a goal, while Mike Vecchione and Jeff Taylor each had a pair of assists. First-year forwards Luc Brown and Ryan Burton each registered their first career points with an assist and Spencer Foo also contributed a helper. In goal, Alex Sakellaropoulos made 22 saves.
Walker put Union ahead at 3:30 of the first, collecting a rebound in the crease and lifting shot over AIC goaltender Alex Murray, but the Yellow Jackets responded 1:47 later when Dominik Florian converted on a breakaway with a shot high on the blocker side.
DeSimone restored the Dutchmen’s lead before the end of the frame with a power-play goal, burying a one-timer from the top of the left circle at 14:51.
Florian again provided the answer for AIC, potting his second of the night with a wrist shot through traffic at 2:33 of the second before Union closed out the period with two unanswered goals.
Pontarelli put the Dutchmen back in front, taking a behind-the-net pass from Burton and tucking a shot on the short side from a tough angle. Vidmar made it 4-2 with a wrap-around goal at 18:34 for his first of the season.
The Yellow Jackets responded with back-to-back goals in the third, tying the game at 4-4. Jason Dudley brought AIC within one, redirecting Jani Jaks’ shot from the point past Sakellaropoulos and Blake Christensen tied it at 4-4, jamming home a rebound at 14:58.
DeSimone gave Union the last lead it would need 46 seconds later, firing a wrist shot from the point past Murray, who finished with 28 saves. Vecchione picked up his second assist of the day on the goal, tying him for fifth all-time in Union’s Division I era in career points (117) and assists (74).
Union travels to Sacred Heart for a 2 p.m. contest Saturday, Oct. 15.
