ITHACA, N.Y. – Union took the first steps towards defending its Whitelaw Cup title with a 4-2 win over Cornell in the opening game of an ECAC Hockey First Round series Friday evening. The Dutchmen will attempt to close out the best-of-three set tomorrow night in Lynah Rink.
Union scored three times in the second period to change the tempo of a defensive battle to that point. Max Novak shoved in a rebound in a goal-mouth scramble at 7:36. Union struck again at the 14:07 mark on a one-timer from Matt Wilkins off Mike Vecchione’s faceoff win. Novak setup the third goal, sending a pass across the slot to Daniel Ciampini who flicked a backhander past Mitch Gillam at 16:39. it was Ciampini’s NCAA-leading 26th goal of the season.
Vecchione scored short-handed in the third period, as Union set a new team record for short-handed goals in a season (8).
Cornell foiled goaltender Colin Steven’s shutout bid with 6:53 left in regulation as Christian Hilbrich buried a power play goal. The Big Red scored an extra attacker goal at the 19:30 mark, once again using traffic in front of Stevens.
Notes:
Novak has scored in three straight games … Jeff Taylor and Matt Wilkins returned to the lineup after missing games because of injury … Head Coach Rick Bennett is 13-0 in ECACH playoff games and 20-2 overall in the postseason.
