SCHENECTADY, N.Y.-Sophomore forward Spencer Foo had a career-high four points as the Union College men’s hockey team skated to a 4-4 tie in a back-and-forth contest with #8/8 Harvard on Friday night at Messa Rink. The Dutchmen, who are 9-0-3 in their last 12 games against Harvard, go to 4-6-4 overall and 1-5-1 in ECAC Hockey, while the Crimson moves to 6-1-2 overall and 4-1-2 in league play.
Foo registered a goal and a career-best three assists, sophomore forward Ryan Scarfo had a pair of goals and sophomore defenseman Ryan DeSimone had two helpers. In goal, Alex Sakellaropoulos made 34 saves on 38 shots.
Kyle Criscuolo led Harvard with a goal and two assists. Jimmy Vesey had a goal and an assist and Ryan Donato had a pair of helpers. In goal, Merrick Madsen stopped 25 of 29 shots.
Harvard jumped out to a 1-0 lead just 10 seconds into play. The Crimson won the opening draw and chipped the puck into its offensive zone. Criscuolo picked up the loose puck and fed a pass to Vesey, who fired a shot from the slot into the top right corner for his eighth goal in as many games.
The Dutchmen came close to equalizing midway through the first, but Madsen made a big glove save to deny Mike Vecchione’s wrist shot from close range.
Harvard double its lead at 17:22 on Criscuolo’s seventh of the season. Donato quickly collected his own rebound behind the Union net and fed Criscuolo alone in front for a one-timer.
The Dutchmen pulled one back before the end of the period, as Spencer Foo intercepted a pass at center ice and beat two Harvard defensemen before jamming home a back hand on the near side at 19:45.
Union was awarded a penalty shot 4:01 into the second period after Matt Wilkins was hauled down on a breakaway, but Madsen made a blocker save to deny Wilkins on the ensuing shot, keeping his team in front, 2-1.
The Dutchmen continued to press and were rewarded with a power-play goal at 11:07. Foo sent a shot from the point toward the front of the net and Scarfo redirected it past Madsen for his seventh tally of the season.
Sebastian Vidmar scored his first career goal 1:03 later, jamming home a rebound to give Union its first lead of the game at 3-2 heading into the final frame.
Harvard struck quickly in the third, pulling even on a rebound goal from Alexander Kerfoot at 1:25, but the Dutchmen regained their lead 2:02 later on Scarfo’s second of the contest. Scarfo cut through the offensive zone and collected a pass from Foo before sliding a shot five-hole on the backhand.
However, the Crimson would not go away, battling back to tie the game at 3-3 with 2:29 remaining on a Wiley Sherman blast from the point.
The Dutchmen had a flurry of shots in the final seconds of the extra frame, but they could find the winner, as the game ended 4-4.
Union returns to action at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5 at home against Dartmouth.
