Union loses 5-3 to Yale

SCHENECTADY – The No. 19 Union College men’s hockey team dropped a 5-3 decision to Yale on Saturday night at Messa Rink.

The loss in the first for Union since Nov. 4, and the Dutchmen are now 9-7-1 on the season with a 6-2-0 mark in ECAC Hockey play. Yale improves to 4-7-0 with a 4-6-0 ECAC Hockey record.

The Bulldogs opened up the scoring with two goals in the first period and out-shot the Dutchmen 11-6. Despite being down 2-0, Union got one back before the end of the first period. Sebastian Vidmar scored his fifth of the season with less than four minutes remaining in the period.

Yale scored again in the second period to take back its two-goal lead, but Cole Maier responded for Union less than 30 seconds later.

Union ended up tying the game up at 3-3 in the first two minutes of the third period after Anthony Rinaldi tipped in a shot from Vidmar. Unfortunately, Yale scored off a turnover in the Union zone to take a 4-3 lead with six minutes left in regulation.

The Dutchmen opted for an empty net in the final two minutes of play, and had a couple quality chances, but couldn’t get anything into the back of the net before Yale scored on the empty net to make it a 5-3 final.

Union’s power-play had a rough outing, as the Dutchmen were unable to score during five power-play opportunities, which included a five minute major and a two-minute five-on-three chance.

The Dutchmen return to Messa Rink next weekend, Dec. 9-10, hosting Massachusetts and Holy Cross for a nonconference series.