Strong Second Period Sends No. 18 Union Past Princeton, 7-3

Friday, December 2

7:00 PM

Princeton University

2-7-1, 0-6-1

Union

9-3-2, 5-1-1

Team	1	2	3	F
Union	1	5	1	7
Princeton	2	0	1	3

Photo by: Princeton Athletic Communications

Strong Second Period Sends No. 18 Union Past Princeton, 7-3

December 02, 2016 | Men's Ice Hockey

Box Score

A five-goal second period gave Union the lead and Princeton wouldn't be able to recover as the No. 18 ranked Dutchmen skated a 7-3 win at Hobey Baker Rink on Friday night, Dec. 2.

The Tigers led 2-1 after the first period with sophomores Véronneau and Ryan Kuffner both scoring. Veronneau would score his second of the game in the third, both power-play goals.

The nation's leading scorer Mike Vecchione nearly had his pocket picked before linemate Spencer Foo came to the rescue and took the puck just inside the Princeton defensive zone. Foo slide the puck across the paint to Sebastian Vidmar for the goal on the right side at 4:21 of the first.

The Tigers responded with a power-play goal at 8:30, just 22 seconds after going on the man advantage. Jackson Cressey won the puck back to Josh Teves who then pushed the puck across the line towards Véronneau who tried to swat it down with his stick. The ECAC Hockey Player of the Week David Hallisey collected the puck in the corner before sending the puck back up the wall to Véronneau for the rifle.

Véronneau and Kuffner teamed up later in the period to force a turnover in the neutral zone. Véronneau took a shot that was turned away into the corner where it was picked up by Alex Riche who had a whack at it before it got blocked and Kuffner got the loose puck in the slot for the goal at 16:33.

A two-on-one developed between Vecchione and Foo and Vecchione hit the back door to tie the game at 2-2 at 4:34. Nick DeSimone gave Union the lead for good just 47 seconds later. Foo and Vecchione teamed up again for the fourth goal at 14:06 before the Dutchmen scored twice within 1:35 to take a 6-2 lead.

Senior Colton Phinney was pulled from the game after making 19 saves, with junior Ben Halford replacing him for the final 1:19 of the second as Union took a 6-2 lead into the locker room.

Halford remained in net for the third where he made 12 saves and nearly got away with a clean bill of sale.

Véronneau's second goal was a beauty as he cruised down the left wing, split two defenders and past a third and over the shoulder of Alex Sakellaropoulos at 7:24.

Union's final goal had to be reviewed to see if it was in the goal before time expired as Vas Kolias ripped a shot from the point past Halford.

Union (9-3-2) had a 38-29 edge in shots. Sakellaropoulos made 26 saves in net for Union wo was 0 for 5 on the power play.

Princeton (2-7-1) was 2 for 7 on the power play.

The Tigers look to rebound tomorrow, Dec. 3 when they host Rensselaer at 7 p.m.