SCHENECTADY, N.Y. - Simon Jellus registered the game winning goal with 3:01 remaining on the clock in regulation, lighting the lamp for the fifth time this season as Vermont (6-8-3, 3-4-2 HEA) defeated Union (9-7-1, 3-3-0 ECACH) 3-2 on Saturday evening from Messa Rink at Achilles Center. Max Strand extended his point streak to six games, notching two points vs the Garnet Chargers on one goal and one assist.
COACH'S QUOTE
"Really proud of our guy's effort and resolve tonight," said Head Coach Steve Wiedler. "They were very mature this weekend. Our coaching staff was impressed in our team's ability to stay in the fight. They didn't blink once all weekend. That's a good Union team we just swept and doing it on the road is that much harder. Credit to our leadership group again for doing it the right way.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Following a scoreless first period seeing the Catamounts outshoot Union 12-4, Strand broke the ice, scoring on the power-play after corralling a pass from Sebastian Törnqvist who took a hit to make a play, electing to snip his shot blocker side high to earn Vermont the 1-0 lead, securing his fourth goal of the season.
- Jens Richards made it 2-0 in favor of Vermont after executing a give-and-go play with Strand entering the Union zone, finding the back of the net by using his backhand to pin his shot five-hole on the Union goalie, notching his second goal of the season to give the Catamounts a two-goal cushion.
- Union would storm back, scoring two goals within the final five minutes of action in the middle frame, seeing John Prokop and Joseph Messina light the lamp for the Garnet Chargers, knotting the score at 2-2 heading into the final period of action.
- After intense back-and-forth action in the final period, just as the game seemed to be heading to overtime with 3:01 remaining on the clock, Joel Määttä received the puck from Blake Steenerson who was pinned against the corner wall behind the net, taking a few strides as he wrapped around the goal, feeding Jellus waiting at the top of the far circle, wasting no time as he unleashed a rocket wrist shot glove side high, beating the Union goalie for his fifth goal of the season, second goal of the weekend, earning the Catamounts a late 3-2 advantage.
- The Catamounts tamed any sort of offensive push applied by the Garnet Chargers for the remainder of the game, winning the matchup 3-2 and earning the weekend sweep over the old ECACH foe, Union.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Strand scored the opening goal for the Catamounts on the power-play while notching one assist and taking two shots on net. Strand has recorded a point int six-straight games, earning 15 total points (team-high) in just as many games so far this season.
- Jellus tallied the game-winning goal for Vermont to go along with three shots on net. Jellus is up to five goals on the season which ties a career high, the third time he's done this in his UVM career. It's the first time this season Jellus has scored in back-to-back games.
- Richards recorded one goal, his second of the season, while tying a team high four shots on net. Richard's four shots on goal is a new season high for him in that category.
- S. Törnqvist recorded his eighth assist of the season on Saturday night, putting him at five assists in his last four games, also extending his point streak to four games.
- Henry totaled one assist versus Union on Saturday, securing his third straight game with a point, the longest point streak in his UVM career.
- Steenerson also notched one assist, his sixth total point on the season, to go along with a game high seven shot attempts, placing four on net. Steenerson has now registered a point in back-to-back games for the first time in his UVM career.
- Määttä tallied one assist against the Garnet Chargers on Saturday, giving him five points in the last three games, the most points scored in a three-game span in his UVM career. Määttä also earned a game-high 10 faceoff wins.
- Vermont successfully killed off all six of Unions power-play opportunities.
- The Catamounts outshot the Garnet Chargers 34-21.
- UVM has scored a power-play goal in the last three consecutive games.
- Vermont was victorious in the faceoff circle, winning 27 faceoffs to Unions 24.
- With tonight's 3-2 decision, Community Bank N.A. will donate $225 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
The Catamounts will get an extended break until Sunday, December 29, when they'll continue non-conference play, gearing up to face Army on the road from West Point, N.Y. at Tate Rink. Puck drop for the non-conference matchup is slated for 6 p.m. and will be broadcast live on FloHockey.TV. As always, it will also be broadcast live on WVMT (96.3 FM/620 AM) with the voice of the Catamounts, Adam Lafleur.
