Union passes SLU

SCHENECTADY — St. Lawrence gave up a third-period lead for the second straight game, this time losing to No. 20 Union, 4-2, in men's ECAC Hockey on Saturday.

The Dutchmen (14-10-5 overall, 8-5-3 ECAC) rallied late, scoring three unanswered goals on just seven shots over the final 20 minutes. Union (15-7-6, 9-3-4) rests tied for the conference lead with Cornell and Yale, while St. Lawrence sits in fourth, three points out of first.

The Saints spent the majority of the first period in the Union zone, but neither team could come up with a goal in the opening period.

Union goalie Keith Kinkaid made 12 saves in the first period. SLU's Kain Tisi faced only five shots, stopping them all.

St. Lawrence broke the deadlock first, 7 minutes, 22 seconds into the period as Derek Keller sent Aaron Bogosian into the Union zone. Bogosian had a step on the defense and blasted a hard, low shot past Kinkaid's stick side for his second goal of the weekend and sixth of the season.

Union avenged the score at 9:52 when a blocked shot found Jason Walters's stick. He had his effort thwarted by Tisi, but the rebound came to Adam Presizniuk, who put it back for his 11th of the year, tying the game at 1-1.

St. Lawrence continued its stellar penalty kill in the second, killing three penalties in the period. SLU finally cashed in with a shorthanded goal as Alex Curran passed to Travis Vermeulen on a breakaway. Vermeulen beat Kinkaid one-on-one with just 6.3 seconds left in the period.

Union's persistence and several St. Lawrence defensive miscues led to the three-goal onslaught. The first tied the game 3:09 into the period after the Saints gave the puck away behind their own net.

ECAC leading scorer Mario Valery-Trabucco was all alone in front of Tisi and buried his 16th of the year from point-blank range. Walters was credited with the assist.

Union took the lead for good at 4:02 when Wayne Simpson tipped a shot from the top of the faceoff circle. It deflected inside the far post.

St. Lawrence was awarded only its second power play late in the period, but the Dutchmen kept the Saints scoreless.

Union put the game away at 18:07 when Kyle Bodie scored his third of the year, deflecting a shot in from the blue line.