Union completes weekend sweep of RPI

TROY– Three third-period goals propelled Union to a 4-2 win against Rensselaer as the Dutchmen clinched the series against the Engineers to claim the Capital Skates Trophy on Saturday night at the Houston Field House.

After a five-game losing skid to start the season, Union has now won its last four games and currently sits atop the ECAC Hockey standings with a 2-0-0 record to start league play.

Ryan Scarfo opened the scoring in the first period, netting his fourth goal of the season. Jack Adams pressured hard on a fore-check and forced a turnover in the corner for Scarfo, who quickly put it past Chase Perry at the 11:04 mark.

In the second period, RPI bounced back and scored twice, including a late tally with 15 seconds left in the frame, to take a 2-1 lead.

Playing with a deficit for the first time since breaking its losing streak, Union went to work in the third period.

Senior captain Cole Maier scored his first of the season, netting the tying goal at 3:39 with assists from Scarfo and Vas Kolias.

Midway through the third period, Anthony Rinaldi was assessed a minor penalty for hooking, but Union was able to kill off the penalty and earn its own power play immediately after. Back on the ice, Rinaldi slipped the puck past Perry for his second-consecutive game-winning goal, giving the Dutchmen a 3-2 lead with 6:32 remaining in the game.

The Engineers pushed back in the final minutes to find an equalizer, but Ryan Walker scored on an empty net to secure the weekend sweep for Union.

Darion Hanson was back between the pipes for Union, making 13 saves in the contest for his fourth-straight victory. Perry made 25 saves on the other end of the ice for the Engineers.

Union heads upstate next weekend, taking on St. Lawrence Friday, Nov. 3, before playing Clarkson on Saturday, Nov. 4. Both road games are set to begin at 7 p.m. (ET).