The number 20 ranked Union men’s hockey team played a tough game against number 9 Cornell this past Saturday in Ithaca. Even though the Dutchmen tallied more shots on goal than the Big Red, the final score was 3 – 1, with Cornell taking the victory.

The Big Red jumped out to an early lead in the first period with a goal from Michael Regush during Cornell’s first power play of the game. Even with thirteen minor penalties for the game, Cornell and Union only had five and four power plays, respectively. Before the first period ended, the Dutchmen were able to tie up the score with a shorthanded goal from senior Cole Maier ’19. With this shot being Union’s fifth shorthanded goal of the season, they currently lead the entire ECAC in that category.

Union turned a solid first period with eight shots on goal into a practice session the second period, recording a total of fourteen shots on goal. However, this was no match for the goaltending of Cornell’s Matthew Galajda as Union was unable to net another goal after the first period. The energy the Dutchmen played with on offense during the second period was matched by their defense. Cornell was only able to get three shots on goal. Unfortunately, Cornell’s Mitch Vanderlaan snuck one in off a rebound during a scramble in front of Union’s net. The continued excellent play from Galajda helped Cornell close out the victory in the third period, as he turned away another nine shots on goal.

During the final moments of the game when Union had decided to pull their goalie in hopes of a late-period net, Cornell forward Morgan Barron scored on the empty net, giving the Big Red their third goal of the evening. Cornell finished with thirty saves, outdefending Union’s seventeen.

After Saturday night, Union now has a record of 15-11-6, with a conference record of 8-10-2. The Dutchmen have a big weekend coming up as they host both Dartmouth (3/1) and Harvard (3/2) at Achilles Rink at 7 p.m..