Box Score SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – The Sacred Heart men's hockey team opened the 2015-16 season Friday night with a 1-1 tie against the Union Dutchmen at Messa Rink.
Union (0-0-1) took a 1-0 lead with 2:59 to play in the first period when Cole Maier put a Matt Wilkins pass past Sacred Heart (0-0-1) goaltender Brett Magnus. Mike Vecchione got the three-on-one rush started that led to the opening tally of the game. After a scoreless second period, the Pioneers scored their first goal of the season with 1:20 remaining in the third. With Magnus pulled for an extra skater, senior defenseman Jacob Brightbill tied the game off of an assist from Spencer Graboski.
Magnus made 31 saves in his collegiate debut, 16 of which came in the third period and overtime. Union goaltender Alex Sakellaropoulos made 17 saves for the Dutchmen. The Pioneers were outshot 32-18, but held Union scoreless on four power plays. Friday night marked the first time since 2002 when Sacred Heart opened the season with a tie. On Oct. 18, 2002 the Pioneers tied at Bemidji State 1-1.
Sacred Heart is back on the road next Friday, Oct. 16 at UMass at 7 p.m.
FIRST PERIOD
- Union went on an early power play at 5:19 when Zach Luczyk was called for hooking. SHU held the Dutchmen without a shot on the man advantage, as Jordan Minello had a shot saved by Union goaltender Alex Sakellaropoulos.
- The Pioneers were 0-for-2 on the power play in the first period. After not having a shot on its initial man advantage, Zach Sabatini and Alec Butcher each had a shot on goal during Sacred Heart's second power play at 14:19.
- Butcher came close to tying the game with four seconds remaining in the period, but Sakellarpoulos made the save to give the Dutchmen a 1-0 lead at intermission.
SECOND PERIOD
- Sacred Heart withstood an early barrage of Union shots in the first 1:32, blocking two with Magnus making a save on a Wilkins shot.
- The Pioneers had a five-minute power play five minutes into the period. Union killed the penalty by blocking three shots to stay ahead 1-0.
- Butcher came close to tying the game with 6:38 remaining in the period, but Sakellaropoulos made the save.
- Magnus made eight saves in the period to keep the deficit at one goal.
THIRD PERIOD
- Minello and Mitch Nylen each had shots saved early in the third period.
- Magnus made saves on back-to-back shots from Ryan Scarfo and Brendan Taylor nine minutes into the third.
- Union took seven straight shots in about three minutes halfway through the third. Four of the shots were blocked and two were stopped by Magnus.
- Sakellaropoulos stopped shots by Evan Jasper and Kory Kennedy before the Pioneers pulled Magnus with 1:20 remaining.
- Magnus stopped a shot from Spencer Foo with two seconds remaining to force overtime.
OVERTIME
- Union took the first three shots of overtime, with Magnus making one save.
- Sacred Heart responded with shots from Minello and Jasper that were saved as well.
- Nylen had a shot saved with 1:53 remaining in the extra period.
- Magnus made the final four saves of the game to ensure the tie.
