No. 12/13 Union Men’s hockey outlasts No. 10/11 Vermont, 2-1

BURLINGTON, Vt.—A 32-save performance from senior goaltender Alex Sakellaropoulos and a timely Jeff Taylor power-play goal lifted the No. 12/13 Union College men’s hockey team to a 2-1 win and a weekend sweep against No. 10/11 Vermont, Sunday evening at Gutterson Fieldhouse. The Dutchmen, who extend their win streak to six, go to 14-3-2, while the Catamounts move to 10-6-2.

Sakellarpoulos was nearly perfect, turning away 18 shots over the first two periods before making 14 saves in the third to improve to 13-1-1 on the season.

J.C. Brassard netted his first goal of the season and Spencer Foo extended his point streak to 17 games (11g-20a) with an assist. Cole Maier pushed his point streak to three with an assist (2g-3a) and Ryan Scarfo added a helper.

After a scoreless first period, Brian Bowen put the Catamounts in front with power-play goal at 11:46 of the second, tipping in Rob Darrar’s shot.

Brassard answered for Union with a power-play goal 50 seconds into the third, unloading a slap shot past Vermont netminder Mike Santaguida (18 saves) to tie the game at 1-1. Scarfo picked up an assist on the goal, giving him four points (1g-3a) in the last five games.

The Dutchmen found new life in the final frame, registering 10 shots in the period before Taylor hammered home a one-timer on the power play with 2:18 to play. The goal put Taylor’s put streak at seven games (3g-4a).

Vermont threatened late, but Sakellaropoulos came up with a blocker save to deny Ross Colton’s one-timer from the slot with 12 seconds remaining to secure the 2-1 win.

The Catamounts outshot the Dutchmen 33-20 and went 1-for-5 on the power play, while Union was 1-for-4.

The Dutchmen close out 2016 at home against defending national champion No. 8/9 North Dakota at 4 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 31.