[ad_1]
SCHENECTADY — Maybe Josh Hauge would have preferred an easy win for his first win as Union College’s men’s hockey coach.
But to come back in dramatic fashion to get his first win will be more memorable than a non-tournament.
The Dutchmen overcame a pair of two-goal deficits to go 0 for 6 on the power play to pull out a 4-3 conference season-opening victory over RIT on Saturday in a standing-room-only crowd of 2,401 at the Mesa rink.
Freshman right wing Carter Corpy scored twice, including the game-winner, to give Union the lead with 1:33 left in the third period.
When asked what kind of first win he would have preferred, Haughey laughed.
“It’s a good question,” said Hauge, who was hired in mid-April after serving as an assistant coach at Clarkson. “I’m excited about how it turned out. I think we could get a ton out of it. He showed some character and grit to fight and move on. I’m proud of the guys for that. “I think I probably could have won easily, but I think we could have won more than that.”
Hauge was presented with the puck during the locker room celebration.
“It was a lot of fun,” Hauge said. “For me it was a dream come true. Just to be on the bench and in that atmosphere. I didn’t know it was going to be so good. It couldn’t have been a better night, and now it’s going to be a long night to prepare for tomorrow.” [for a game at Army West Point]He said.
The players were happy for Haughey.
“It was great,” junior center Liam Robertson said. “It’s always fun to give the coach a stick to win the first time in the new job, and I’m sure [it was exciting] For him, and for us. It couldn’t have been better.”
For most of the game, Hauge and the Dutchmen looked like they were going to drop the season opener.
Late in the frame, goals from Tanner Anderson and Evan Miller gave RIT a 2-0 lead at halftime.
Korpi got the Union on the board 21-2 minutes into the second period, scoring a pass from Nate Hanley and beating goaltender Tommy Scarfone.
“It was a turnover at the top of the zone,” said Hanley, who had two assists in the game. “I had the pond. I heard [Korpi] Screaming, I just moved it to him.
RIT regained its two-goal lead when Cody Laskoski’s shot from the right circle beat the glove of goalie Connor Murphy. Caden Villegas, who came out of the penalty box after finishing a heavy penalty, took the ball passed by Chris Theodore on the left wing with a score of 2:1 and shot into the net at 5:38 to make the game 3. -2.
What may have cost the Union the game was its inability to score on the power play, especially in the second period when it had four chances, including two 5-for-3s.
“It was disappointing that we didn’t score, but I think when we were able to put it on top of that, I think that’s an area where you’re going to see a lot of improvement.” Haughey said. “5-on-3 is 100% my fault. We haven’t done enough work on this. We went at it for a minute, but that’s what fell right on my shoulders.”
RIT just couldn’t find the pace to kill those power plays.
“I don’t think we played hard on pucks. [and] Overall in the third period, “said RIT head coach Wayne Wilson. “A lot of passes went to them in the middle of our sticks. We have to be stronger on the pucks in those situations.
As the game went into the third quarter, the Union got stronger. The Dutch took over when Josh Nixon and Theodore met for the “Transfer Portal Goal”. Nixon, who transferred to Union from Lake Superior State, sent a pass to American international transfer Theodore on the left side. Theodore returned the crossing to Nixon, who drove it home.
Corpy’s game-winner was a thing of beauty. John Prokop sends Corpus to the separation. RIT defender Douglas Scott tries to deflect the puck away from Korpi. But Korpi kept the puck, faked a shot with his hand and past the helpless Scarfo.
“Me and [Bram] Scheerer was tied behind him [RIT] Net, and we were on top of each other,” Korpi said. “Our defense played well, and Prokop led the way. [Scott] He was swinging as I came back, and luckily I was able to hold on to him.
RIT 2 1 0 – 3
Union 0 2 2 — 4
First period – 1, RIT, Andrew 1 (Miller, Wilkie), 9:09. 2, RIT, Miller 1 (Kellenberger), 19:35 Penalties – Isabelle, RIT (slashing), 14:31.
Second period – 3, Union, Corp. 1 (Hanley), 2:38. 4, RIT, Laskosky 1, 4:48 5, Union, Villegas 1 (Theodore, Hanley), 5:38. Penalties – Hansen-Bukata, RIT (roughing), 3:22; Villegas, Uni (roughing), 3:22; Wilkie, RIT (roughing), 8:16; Young, Uni (roughing), 8:16; Hansen-Bucata, RIT (holding), 9:57; Wilkie, RIT (front violation), 10:18; Lapointe, RIT (hooking), 12:42; Mahan, RIT (blocking on puck), 14:03.
Third period – 6, Union, Nixon 1 (Theodore), 6:59. 7, Union, Corp. 2 (Prokop), 18:27. Penalties – Andrew, RIT (holding), 1:44.
Shots on goal – RIT 9-8-8 – 25. Union 9-14-10 – 33.
Power-play opportunities – RIT 0 of 0; Union 0 of 6.
Goalies — RIT, Scarfone 0-1-0 (33 shots-29 saves). Union Murphy 1-0-0 (25-22).
A – 2,401. T – 2:10
Judges – Kevin Graber, Anthony Kenny. Linesmen – Mike Montagna, Michael St. Lawrence.
More from The Daily Newspaper:
Categories: College Sports, Sports, Sports, Union College
[ad_2]
Source link
