By Marisa Goolgasian, news correspondent
No. 20 Union College handed the Northeastern men’s ice hockey team their first two losses of the season last weekend, squashing the No. 12 Huskies’ hopes of going 3-0-0 for the first time in five seasons.
This weekend marked the seventh time in program history that the Huskies have gone to battle against Union and the first time Union has come out on top since 2002, bringing the all time series from 3-2-1 to 3-4-1.
“I liked our effort, but we couldn’t finish at the net,” said head coach Jim Madigan Sunday night.
The games were chippy as the teams combined for 45 penalty minutes across the series, including a game misconduct for Union.
The Huskies kicked off Friday night’s home opener with a bang, gaining a 2-0 lead less than seven minutes into the first period thanks to fourth-year forward Lincoln Griffin notching his first goal of the season and first-year forward Tyler Madden scoring on the tail end of a power play.
Then, Union responded with their own offensive explosion. Fourth-year forward Brett Supinski netted two with less than five minutes left in the period, including a short-handed marker sunk in the midst of a Husky power play. The opening period ended at 2-2 and tension thickened on the ice.
The second period was quick-paced, with both teams exchanging scoring opportunities across the neutral zone until fourth-year forward Liam Pecararo, returning to the ice for the first time since 2016, put one away off an impressive feed from third-year defenseman Jeremy Davies.
The Huskies held their 3-2 lead for the rest of the period and into the third until Union came out swinging with a power play strike less than two minutes in, thanks to a top-shelf shot from fourth-year forward Sebastian Vidmar, sending the game into overtime.
Union clinched the victory in the first minute of overtime when fourth-year captain and forward Cole Maier grabbed a loose puck in front of second-year goaltender Cayden Primeau and put it in net backhand.
When the teams met again the following night, the Huskies took control multiple times throughout the first period but weren’t able to capitalize on their puck possession, unlike Union who quickly took a two-goal lead 12 minutes into the game.
The second period brought a ray of hope for the Huskies when Union’s second-year forward Jack Adams was handed a five-minute major and a game misconduct for a huge hit on second-year defender Billy Carrabino from behind, giving NU third-year forward Grant Jozefek the chance to put a point on the scoreboard for NU on a redirection from a shot from third-year defender Ryan Shea two minutes in. Neither team was able to find its way onto the scoreboard for the rest of the period.
The final period had a desperate tone that was especially clear when Supinski attempted to jam the puck under Primeau’s pads after the whistle. The call on the ice was no goal, but Union bounced right back with a sniper shot from Vidmar off of a face off win by Supinksi.
The Huskies pulled Primeau for the 6-on-4 advantage, but despite some decent shooting opportunities they couldn’t get the puck into the net.
“We’re disappointed with last night’s results having been up for most of the game and then disappointed tonight obviously,” said Madigan about the unexpected series loss.
Although the Huskies were unable to muster a win this weekend, they will learn from the experience and get back to working out the kinks, Madigan said.
“We’re gonna get back at it Monday,” Madigan said. His message to the group was ‘be prepared to work.’
The Huskies will begin conference play this Friday in their Hockey East opener at UMass Lowell and will be back at Matthews Saturday night to take on St. Cloud State.
