Cameron Buhl and Justin Paul both scored for the Skating Saints, and Francis Boisvert made 32 saves in net, but a late rally from Union sent the St. Lawrence University men's hockey team to a 3-2 loss at Appleton Arena on Friday night.

With the loss, the Saints fell to 5-10-4 and 3-4-2 in ECAC play, while the Dutchmen improved to 6-10-3, and 4-5-1 in conference action.

"I liked our first two periods and our puck management," said Charles W. Appleton Head Men's Hockey Coach Brent Brekke "We got away from our game in the third period, we turned over too many pucks and did not defend hard enough to eliminate some of their offensive chances. We need to play a full 60 minutes and finish out games when we have a lead heading into the third period."

At the midway point of the first period, Buhl would give St. Lawrence an early 1-0 lead. A Union forward was carrying the puck into the Saints end, but was met by Ty Naaykens and senior captain David Jankowski on the backcheck. Jankowski scooped up the loose puck and dished it to Buhl. The junior did the rest of the work skating into the zone, taking a step to the middle and firing the puck over the glove of Connor Murphy to take the lead.

The lead was short-lived, as the Dutchmen tied the game two minutes and 36 seconds later. A defensive zone turnover turned bad for St. Lawrence as Josh Kosack was given a free look on Boisvert. The shot was saved, but corralled by Kosack, who skated around to the front of the net and put a second shot on. This time Liam Robertson was able to get a stick on the puck and tip it in to tie the game at 1-1.


With less than seven minutes to go in the second frame, the Scarlet and Brown would retake the lead. Union's goaltender Murphy hauled down a Saints forward outside the crease and the Dutchmen were set to go on the penalty kill, so St. Lawrence pulled Boisvert for a six-on-five bid with the delayed penalty. Jankowski had the puck at the top of the zone and found Oak Macleod on the left circle. Macleod wisely looked for sticks instead of a shot and found Paul in front of the goal, who deflected the puck five-hole to take the 2-1 lead. The assist was the second for Jankowski in the contest.

After leading the Dutchmen 23-19 in shots through two periods, Union came out firing to the tune of 16 shots in search of the equalizer. Boisvert stood tall in net making some big saves to keep it a one-goal game, but the pressure was too great.

Gleb Murtazin tied the game at 2-2 burying a back door rebound off a shot from Andrew Seaman. Less than three minutes later, Chaz Smedsrud got a shot on Boisvert that was saved, but a diving effort from Andrew Seaman chopped the puck into the air and into the net to give Union the 3-2 lead. The goal was reviewed for goaltender interference, but was confirmed a good goal by the officials.

The Saints went on the power play four seconds after the goal after an elbowing call, and would pull Boisvert during the advantage for a six-on-four. The Skating Saints were able to get 11 shots off in the last three minutes and 26 seconds of the contest, but could not get one passed Murphy to tie the game.  

Boisvert stopped 32 shots in his first regular season action since January 24th of last season. Murphy had 30 saves in the win.

Neither team was able to score on the power play going 0-for-3 each, but the Skating Saints were able to cash in on the six-on-five before one of their three chances.

The Skating Saints will have two days to rest before welcoming RPI to Appleton Arena after a postponement in their schedule. St. Lawrence will take on the Engineers on Monday, January 17th at 3:00 p.m after they take on Clarkson on Sunday afternoon. The Saints will play a game on a Monday for the first time since the 2010-11 season when they traveled to Milford, Conn. to take on Sacred Heart, where they would take the 5-2 win.