Sister Kissing: Union and Brown Tie in ECAC Opener

Friday’s game at Messa Rink marked the first ECAC games for each Union and Brown this season. Neither team came out victorious though as the game ended in a 3-3 tie. Even though each team came out of the game with one point in the standings, they each see the point differently.

Brown head coach Brendan Whittet took a more optimistic tack.

“To come in here and take a point for us is a success,” said the first year head coach. “We are a team that’s learning how to compete. It’s a process.”

On the other hand, head coach Nate Leaman was not particularly satisfied with the tie, even after coming back to tie the game late in the third period.

“I don’t think you ever feel real good about a tie,” said Leaman.

Last weekend the Bears opened up their season with a 1-0 overtime loss to Princeton. They made sure that there would be no talk of back-to-back shutouts early as they scored just 32 seconds into the game. Brown’s first goal of the season was scored by defenseman Jeremy Russell on a lofty shot from the left point that floated over the right shoulder of Union goaltender Corey Milan.

“We just sat back a little bit on that first shift,” said Union forward Adam Presizniuk, who picked up two assists on the night.

The period was completely dominated by the Bears as they outshot the Dutchmen 7-4, had a 16-9 advantage on face-offs, and completely outworked and outplayed their opponent in all aspects of the game.

The first five minutes of the second period was five of the wildest minutes to be seen in a hockey game as four goals were scored — two power-play goals by Union and two shorthanded goals by Brown.

The chaos began when Union went on the power-play 46 seconds into the period. On the ensuing faceoff the puck was drawn back to Union’s Greg Coburn at the left point where instantly Brown’s Aaron Volpatti stole the puck from Coburn and raced down the ice on a semi-breakaway, and put the puck past the glove of Milan for a shorthanded goal.

Union struck right back 47 seconds later as Kelly Zajac was able to put his team on the board with a power-play goal. After a shot from Mike Schreiber made it through to Clemente, Adam Presizniuk helped slip the puck under the goaltender’s pads where Zajac was waiting on the doorstep to knock the trickling puck into the net.

After the Union man-advantage ended, they were able to go right back on to the power-play 23 seconds later as Volpatti was called for elbowing. This Brown penalty also led to a similar chain of frantic events as Brown scored on a costly Union turnover and with Union striking back after the power-play.

Harry Zolnierczyk put Brown up by two again as he converted on a costly turnover by Union’s Mario Valery-Trabucco 46 seconds into the power play. After stealing the puck from Valery-Trabucco at the Union blueline, Zolnierczyk raced down on Milan on a breakaway and proceeded to snap the puck between the legs of Milan.

“We just didn’t execute real well,” said Leaman. “I don’t think we made them earn their offense.”

Shortly after Volpatti left the box Schreiber was able to whack the puck past Clemente as he followed up his shot from the blueline and stuffed the puck under Clemente’s pads.

The game calmed down a bit after this as the game remained a one goal game heading into the third period.

The Dutchmen completely dominated the third period as Brown tried to hold on to the lead for dear life, but were unable to as Schreiber tied the game up with his second goal of the game with 6:39 left in regulation. The goal came when the senior defenseman sent a high shot from the left point through traffic which found its way over the right should of Clemente, who was screened on the play.

“I was just looking to get it on net,” said Schreiber who set a career-high with his two goals. “I didn’t even see it go in.”

Coach Leaman was very pleased with Schreiber’s performance proclaiming that, “when he plays like that he is one of the top defensemen in the league.”

With the game tied the game headed to an extra frame.

Union got the best chance of the overtime when Jeremy Welsh and Valery-Trabucco went down on a 2-on-1 20 seconds into the period, but were unable to connect.

This was the closest either of the two teams would get as neither team was able to score, ending the game in a tie.

Brown (0-1-1 overall, 0-0-1 in the ECAC), who is still winless on the season,
will head to RPI tomorrow night, while Union (3-3-2, 0-0-1) will welcome Yale for a Saturday night match-up.