Seniors Greg Coburn and Wayne Simpson jar the puck away from the Bowling Green forward in this past weekend’s games.
The Union College men’s hockey team, who fell to number nine in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine poll after losing their season opener to Merrimack, bounced back by sweeping Bowling Green State University last weekend and improving their record to 2-1.
In the first game of the series, the Dutchmen found themselves in an early two-goal deficit. However, Union was able to rally back and score two power play goals before the end of the first period.
First-year defenseman Sebastien Gringas scored his first collegiate goal after pinching in from the point and receiving a pass from Sophomore forward, Max Novak. Junior forward Josh Jooris tied the contest minutes later as he scored on a deflected shot from Junior defenseman Matt Bodie.
Gringras would go on to score his second goal of the contest midway through the second period to give the Dutchmen a 3-2 lead. The Dutchmen put the game completely out of reach when Senior forward Kyle Bodie and Matt Bodie both scored shorthanded goals on the same penalty kill.
Union would go on to win the first game 5-3.
In the second game of the series, the Dutchmen came out firing and scored in the opening minutes of the contest.
Novak won an offensive zone face-off back to Sophomore defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere, who fired a shot through traffic and past Bowling Green goalie Andrew Hammond. Gostisbehere had two goals on the night.
Union added to its lead in the final moments of the first period on a terrific individual effort by Senior forward Wayne Simpson. After receiving a pass from Junior forward Matt Hatch on the left wing boards, Simpson put on a nice move and cut to the middle of the ice where he fired a shot over the shoulder of Hammond. The goal would be Simpson’s 10th career game-winning goal, tying Scott Seney’s ‘06 school record.
Junior forward Daniel Carr added to the team’s lead after scoring on a tip-in on a Union power play. The Dutchmen won the game 4-1 to give the team the sweep. Junior goaltender Troy Grosenick stopped 21 of 22 shots.
The team looked anxious and nervous in their season opener against Merrimack where they played in front a sold-out Messa rink. Union is much more relaxed and perhaps got out all the early season jitters.
Their special teams have been playing exceptionally well so far this season, where this weekend the team scored a total of five power play and two shorthanded goals.
In addition, the team has continued to prove their strength as a road team. Union is 31-15-6 in true road games over the past 2 years.
The team will now travel to play American International College (1-1) Friday night and the University of Connecticut (0-1-1) on Saturday.
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