SCHENECTADY, N.Y. - Four first period goals were the difference as Vermont's (5-8-3, 3-4-2 HEA) offense continues to soar, defeating Union (9-6-1, 3-3-0 ECACH) 6-2 on Friday night from Messa Rink at Achillies Center. 11 different Catamounts registered a point or more en route the 6-2 victory over the Garnet Chargers.
COACH'S QUOTE
"Proud of our guys for showing up and working as a team," said Head Coach Steve Wiedler. "We showed some good effort and a team first attitude. Our leadership group had good maturity from the game. That's a very good Union team we played tonight and I would be willing to bet that they'll have a big response tomorrow."
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Vermont opened scoring 5:35 into the opening frame, seeing Isak Walther maneuver his way towards the net on the short side where he fed a cross-crease pass to Simon Jellus, wasting no time taking a one-timer shot into the back of the net, securing his fourth tally of the season to give the Catamounts a 1-0 lead.
- After an equalizing goal from Union shortly after, UVM re-gained the lead 9:53 into the first period when Joel Määttä tucked his shot top shelf in front of the net, earning his fourth goal on the campaign earning Vermont a 2-1 advantage. Walther was awarded his second assist of the game while Sebastian Törnqvist earned the secondary assist on the Catamount goal.
- The Catamounts went up 3-1 on the powerplay 12:57 into opening puck drop, seeing Colin Kessler get fed by Timofei Spitserov all alone in the slot, dancing the Union goalie out of position enabling him to slip the puck five-hole for his team high sixth goal on the season. Max Strand was awarded the secondary assist.
- Blake Steenerson made it 4-1 with 1:26 left on the clock in the first period, battling to the front of the net and out muscling all Union defenders, burying his third goal of the season to extend the Catamount advantage to three goals.
- Brandon Buhr would tuck a last second goal before the final period ended as the Catamounts entered the first intermission ahead, 4-2.
- Vermont scored its second shorthanded goal in just as many games 6:50 into the middle frame thanks to Thomas Sinclair powering his way into the Union zone, putting a shot on net that set up a prime rebound for Xavier Henry to snipe a snapshot blocker side high for his second goal of the season, earning Vermont the 5-2 lead.
- Luca Münzenberger would seal the deal with an empty net goal 15:15 into the final frame, securing his fourth goal of the season to propel the Catamounts to a 6-2 victory of Union.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Kessler recorded on goal against Union, sixth of the season, to go along with a tied team high three shots on goal. It's the first time in his UVM career scoring a goal in back-to-back games.
- Maatta registered two points on one goal and one assist, the first time in his career notching a back-to-back multi-point performance. Maatta is up to seven points in his last five games.
- Steenerson tallied one goal to go along with two shots on goal.
- Spitserov notched one assist, his third of the season, scoring points in back-to-back games for the second time this season.
- Münzenberger scored one goal, his fourth of the season, earning him six points in the last five games.
- Jellus and Henry each earned one goal vs Union. Henry scored a shorthanded goal for Vermont, the second game in a row the Catamounts have registered a shorthanded goal.
- Walther tallied two assists against the Garnet Chargers, the second time this season recording a multi-point game, seventh time in his career.
- Sinclair totaled two assists, notching his first career back-to-back multi-point game.
- Strand extended his point streak to five games, tallying one assist versus Union, putting him at a team high 13 points on the season.
- S. Törnqvist dialed up his second multi-assist game of the season, earning two against the Garnet Chargers on Friday night.
- With tonight's 6-2 decision, Community Bank N.A. will donate $450 to Special Olympics Vermont. Community Bank, N.A. donates $75 per goal to Special Olympics Vermont for every goal the men's and women's team scores this season.
- With the win, Vermont Mutual Insurance Group will donate $100 to Vermont Children's Trust Foundation as part of the Cats Wins, Community Wins Initiative.
UP NEXT
Following Vermont's win vs Union on Friday night, the Catamounts and Garnet Chargers are back at it tomorrow evening at 4 p.m. from Messa Rink at Achilles Center. The action will be broadcast live on ESPN+. As always, it will also be broadcast live on WVMT (96.3 FM/620 AM) with the voice of the Catamounts Adam Lafleur in the Handy Toyota Broadcast Booth.
