Michael Pontarelli scored with 3:53 remaining in regulation to lead Union to a 3-2 win over Quinnipiac at High Point Solutions Arena on Saturday night. Union’s win evened the ECAC quarterfinal series at 1-1, forcing a decisive third game on Sunday at 4 p.m.
“I thought it was a mediocre effort on our part,” said Quinnipiac coach Rand Pecknold. “I thought Union played hard. They had their backs against the wall and they found a way to win.”
Ryan Scarfo and Max Novak each also added goals for the Dutchmen, who battled back from two separate deficits.
“We’re very fortunate to be honest against a team like Quinnipiac,” said Union coach Rick Bennett. “It’s one area of our game that we’d like to omit but at the same time this is playoff hockey and you just have to keep battling back and stay with it, because you’re never out of it.”
Colin Stevens made 31 saves, highlighted by a glove save on the goal line in the second period, to improve to 16-14-0 on the season.
“Last time I checked he’s a national champion from last year and he played like it tonight,” said Bennett.
Sam Anas and Matthew Peca scored for Quinnipiac. Michael Garteig dropped to 21-8-3 with 25 saves in the loss.
“I was disappointed with how some of better players played tonight,” said Pecknold. “We had some of our good players that were bad tonight and we struggle to win when that happens.”
Anas’ goal got Quinnipiac rolling just 3:46 into the opening period. Anas picked up a loose puck and skated into the Union zone. After he gained the blue line, he chipped the puck into space looking for Travis St. Denis. As both Union defenders moved toward the loose puck, St. Denis chipped it between his legs to an open Anas in the slot. Anas then deked from backhand to forehand and stuffed the puck past the left pad of Stevens.
Scarfo answered for the Dutchmen just 27 seconds later to even the score 1-1. Scarfo found position in front of the net and backhanded the rebound of J.C. Brassard’s initial shot past Garteig’s shoulder for the goal.
Peca put the Bobcats back on top six minutes into the second period. Kevin McKernan snapped a shot toward the goal and after a double deflection, Peca found the puck on his stick in front of the goal. With Stevens down and out of position, Peca pulled the puck into space and wristed it into the gaping net.
Seven minutes later, the Dutchmen tied it for a second time. Scarfo hit Novak with a pass in stride and he broke down the right wing side with speed. Novak then moved toward the slot and snapped a low wrist shot on Garteig. Novak then lost his footing and as he slid past the crease, he poked the rebound over Garteig with one hand on his stick.
Pontarelli’s late goal capped the comeback. Nick Cruice caught a pass in the neutral zone and broke down the right wing in the Quinnipiac zone. Just before reaching the goal line, Cruice sent a pass across the slot to Pontarelli, who slammed the puck past the right pad of Garteig.
“We just didn’t cover him,” said Pecknold. “The same with the first goal; we had two goals tonight we gave up where we literally didn’t cover our guys, so that’s not typical of how we play.”
