Both of Union’s streaks are over. The second-ranked Dutchmen lost to No. 9 St. Cloud 3-2 Saturday, snapping their 22-game unbeaten streak and 15-game home winning streak.
Union rolled over St. Cloud 5-1 Friday, but after that game head coach Rick Bennett warned the Dutchmen needed to play better or they’d lose Saturday.
That’s exactly what happened, as the Huskies outshot Union 39-24. The Dutchmen had only six shots in the first period and eight in the second. Sophomore goalie Alex Sakellaropoulos made 36 saves in his first start of the season, but a Union turnover deep in its own end set up the game-winning goal for the Huskies.
Union opens ECAC play this weekend against a Rensselaer team that has struggled mightily the last five games. Still, based on the post-game comments by Bennett and some of the Dutchmen players, it sounds like Union needs to tighten up its game if it’s going to be successful this season. Some of those inconsistencies likely have to do with youth – the Dutchmen played six freshman Saturday against St. Cloud.
Struggles continue for Rensselaer
RPI started the season on a high note, beating Notre Dame in the first round of the Ice Breaker tournament. But it’s been a steady downhill slide for the Engineers since then, as RPI extended its losing streak to five games with a pair of homes losses to Bentley.
The Engineers entered the series with a 4-1 record against the Falcons, but were outscored 9-2 on the weekend.
Offense has been the main culprit. Rensselaer has six goals in six games, and three of those came against the Irish. The Engineers have been shutout three times during their five-game skid, but after this weekend are giving up three-and-half goals per game as well. Jason Kasdorf and Scott Diebold have a combined .886 save percentage.
That number will likely go up dramatically as the season progresses, but the Engineers need to find some offense or it could be a long year in Troy.
Raiders rolling
Colgate pushed its winning streak to four games thanks to a pair of late rallies at Sacred Heart. The Raiders scored three third-period goals Friday, and then scored twice in the final 2:11 Saturday to break a 2-2 tie.
Sophomore Tim Harrison had three goals on the weekend after not scoring one in 34 games last season. Colgate finished the series with four power-play goals.
The wins came minus forward Tylor Spink, who has yet to play this season due to an injury. Twin brother Tyson Spink sat out Saturday’s game after scoring a goal in the series opener. Colgate held Sacred Heart to one shot in the third period Friday, and then outshot the Pioneers 38-12 Saturday.
Pioneers forward Zachary Luczyk , who played at Quinnipiac for the last two seasons, scored Sacred Heart’s first goal of the game on Saturday.
