TROY, N.Y. – Senior Ryan Scarfo recorded a goal and an assist to lead the Union College men’s hockey team to a 4-2 victory over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), in front of a sellout crowd of 4,716 at the Houston Field House on Saturday night. With the win, the Dutchmen improve to 4-5-0 (2-0-0 ECAC Hockey), while the Engineers drop to 1-3-2 (0-2-0 ECAC Hockey).
Sophomore Anthony Rinaldi (Montreal, PQ) broke a 2-2 tie with 7:32 to play in the third period with a shot from the left circle that founds its way through the legs of Engineers junior goaltender Chase Perry (Andover, MN/Wenatchee Wild). The power play goal drew assists from freshman Liam Morgan (Whitby, ON) and junior Brett Supinski (Collegeville, PA).
Junior Ryan Walker (Spotswood, NJ) added an empty-netter to seal the win with 2.1 seconds to play.
Union got the scoring started at 11:04 of the first period, on Scarfo’s (North Chelmsford, MA) fourth goal of the season. Jumping a puck at the left side of the RPI crease, he stuffed it home from close range.
Sophomore Jake Marrello (Slingerlands, NY/PAL Jr. Islanders) leveled the score at 11:04 of the second period, when he found a rebound at the side of the net and pushed it past Union freshman netminder Darion Hanson (East Bethel, MN) for his first goal of the year. RPI freshman Mat Harris (Sudbury, MA/Boston Jr. Bruins) earned the primary assist for his first collegiate point, while junior Brady Wiffen (St. Mary’s, ON/Trenton Golden Hawks) had the secondary.
Wiffen then gave the Engineers the lead (2-1) at 19:45 of the frame, when a shot from the right circle by sophomore Todd Burgess (Phoenix, AZ/Fairbanks Ice Dogs) deflected off his left skate and into the net. Senior Mike Prapavessis (Oakville, ON/Toronto Patriots) also earned a helper on the 4-on-4 tally.
The Dutchmen drew even at 2-2, 3:39 into the third period, on senior captain Cole Maier’s (Pequannock, NJ) first of the season. Skating into the offensive zone, he snapped off a wrister from the right circle and found the top left corner of the net.
Union outshot the Engineers 29-15, while going 1 for 6 on the power play. Rensselaer was 0 for 5 on the man advantage. Perry (0-3-2) notched 25 saves, including 10 in the second period alone. Hanson (3-0-0) had 13 stops for the Dutchmen.
The Engineers are back in action next weekend, when they travel to the North Country to face No. 9 Clarkson and St. Lawrence on Friday (7pm) and Saturday (7pm), respectively. Union visits the Saints and Golden Knights on Friday (7pm) and Saturday (7pm).
