SCHENECTADY, NY – Host Union College (2-0-1) scored three late third period goals to break a 2-2 tie and defeat the RIT men's hockey team (1-2-1) by a score of 5-2, in front of 2,017 fans at Messa Rink on Friday evening.
 
Erik Brown (Keene, Ontario/Kemptville 73's) and Caleb Cameron (Sundridge, Ontario/Listowel Cyclones) scored for the Tigers. Brown added an assist for a two-point night. In net, senior Mike Rotolo (Rochester, NY/Cedar Rapids Roughriders) made 29 saves on 32 shots.
 
Mike Vecchione scored twice and added an assist for the Dutchmen, while Spencer Foo, Sebastian Vidmar, and Eli Lichtenwald also scored. In net, Alex Sakellaropolous picked up the win, making 16 saves.
 
Union led 2-1 heading into the third period before Cameron tied the game with his second goal of the season 1:40 in to tie the game off a feed from Brown. Cameron had his first shot from in front stopped, but was able to convert on the rebound.
 
The Dutchmen would regain the lead with 7:39 left in regulation, as Vidmar tipped in a shot from J.C. Brassard just under the crossbar. RIT would be called for a penalty late in regulation, as just as it was ending, Rotolo was pulled for the extra attacker in the final minute, and Union would score its first of two empty netters.
 
Union out-shot RIT, 34-18. The Dutchmen were 3-for-9 on the power-play, while RIT was 0-for-6.
 
"I thought we did a good job weathering the storm early and were playing well in the second period, before we hurt ourselves by taking some really unnecessary penalties," said RIT head coach Wayne Wilson. "I liked how we came back and played well early in the third period to tie the game, but just couldn't get the win."
 
Neither team scored in the opening period in which Union held a 12-7 edge in shots. RIT weathered the early Union barrage, as the Dutchmen, playing their first home game of the season on homecoming weekend, fired nine of the first 10 shots on goal. Rotolo was there to make a handful of big saves on point-blank chances for the Tigers.
 
The Tigers put the pressure on later in the period on a power-play, firing six of its seven shots in the frame on the man-advantage. Brady Norrish (Strongfield, Saskatchewan/Yorkton Terriers) fired a shot that Sakellaropolous stopped, with the rebound coming right to Gabe Valenzuela (Brampton, Ontario/North York Rangers) in front, who just missed wide with room on the near side.
 
RIT had to kill off a 4-on-3 and abbreviated 5-on-3 from Union later in the period, as each team had three chances with the man-advantage in the frame.
 
The penalty parade continued in the second period, as RIT whistled for five consecutive minors and the Dutchmen would take advantage scoring twice on those chances to lead 2-1 after 40 minutes of play.
 
RIT got off to a great start in the period, as Brown would tally his second goal of the season just 25 seconds in to make it 1-0 Tigers.  While on the fore check, Brown would intercept an errant clearing pass just inside the Union blue line and come in all alone, firing a high shot that Sakellaropolous shouldered away. The rebound popped right up and bounced off a closing Union defender into the open net for the goal.
 
The Tigers had a chance to extend the lead with two power-plays shortly after, but could not.
 
RIT would take four straight penalties over a two minute span and did a great job killing off extended 5-on-3 time, but the Dutchmen would finally take advantage with 5:23 left in the period, as Foo completed a nice passing play for the goal.
 
Vecchione would give Union its first lead of the night moments later, jamming home a loose puck in front on the power-play.

RIT is 12-7-3 all-time against Union. Before tonight, the two teams last met in 2011.

The Tigers are right back in action on Saturday, continuing their road swing at Rensselaer. Saturday's contest from the Houston Field House starts at 7 p.m.