HAMDEN, Conn. – In the end, they played like champions.
With a target on their backs all season as defending national champions, Union’s 2014-15 campaign came to an end with a 3-1 loss to 11th-ranked Quinnipiac in an ECAC Hockey Quarterfinal series.
Quinnipiac’s Soren Jonzzon scored a pair of goals and Matthew Peca added an empty netter in the third and decisive game of the series. Union dominated the third period in shots (11-3), but could not find the equalizer. QU goaltender Michael Garteig made 37 saves to peserve the win, while Colin Stevens closed his career with a 22-save effort.
Union entered the third period trailing 2-1 after Matt Wilkins cut the lead in half, slamming home a rebound at the 7:19 mark of the second period. Mike Vecchione assisted on the play, earning his 50th point of the season to share the team scoring lead with Daniel Ciampini. Both players tied Union’s single-season record for points, set last year by Daniel Carr.
“We left left it all on the ice,” said Union Head Coach Rick Bennett afterwards. “Our coaching staff has been fortunate to work with this senior class. They are champions and they will always have that.”
Union finished the season at 19-18-2, recording a winning season for the eighth-straight year.
Notes:
Union’s seven-member senior class of Mark Bennett, Daniel Ciampini, Sam Coatta, Max Novak, Dillon Pieri, Colin Stevens and Charlie Vasaturo finished 15-2 all-time in the ECACH Hockey Tournament … QU played most of the game without leading scorer Sam Anas, who was lost to injury late in the first period.
