Lillibridge’s Goal in 2nd OT Sends Union Packing

Sophomore defenseman Graham Lillibridge's goal in the second overtime
gave Yale a 2-1 win over Union. 

NEW HAVEN—Graham Lillibridge’s goal with 16:50 left in the second overtime gave the Yale Men’s Hockey Team a 2-1 win over Union in the finale of the best-of-three ECAC Hockey Series at Ingalls Rink. Lillibridge intercepted a clearing attempt on the left point, skated to the top of the circle and then released a shot that sailed over the glove of Dutchmen goalie Darion Hanson. That tally was the 52nd shot on target for Yale, which had 31 more of those than the visitors.

Lillibridge almost didn’t have a chance to be a hero. The Dutchmen put the puck in the net 1:43 into the second extra period, but a referee waved his arms to signal goalie interference as the Union players jumped on the ice to celebrate. The play was reviewed and confirmed as interference on Yale senior goalie Corbin Kaczperski, who had 20 saves and another fine performance.

“Their guy tried to clear it and he fanned on it a little,” said Lillibridge, a sophomore defenseman. “He put it on my tape. I had some time to walk it in with my head up. A guy came out and I was able to get around him and beat the goalie.”

Both teams had third-period and first-OT advantages that could have ended the game, but Kaczperski and Hanson kept coming up with the stops. The ice, tilted in favor of the Blue most of the game, was really a down-hill race for the home team as it out-shot the Dutchmen a combined 25-4 over those two frames.

Union found the net at 14:06 of the first period, and Yale answered at 5:15 of the second. Brett Jewell’s re-direction of a Jack St. Ivany shot from the top of the right circle evened the score at 1-1. St. Ivany shot it as Jewell was passing through the low slot and the puck glanced off the sophomore forward’s stick past Hanson, who finished with 50 saves.

“I really loved the way we were playing all game long, and it’s really hard to fight the frustration when you’re not getting the results you’re supposed to be getting,” Yale head coach Keith Allain said. “My emotions were about making sure their emotions were in check so we would be able to get the job done, and we did.” 

The win advances the Bulldogs to the ECAC quarterfinals where they will face arch-rival Quinnipiac, the No. 14-ranked team in the nation. Game One of the best-of-three series will be Friday night in Hamden.

—Staff Reports

#yalebulldogs @YaleMHockey @UnionMHockey #YaleHockey #UnionHockey #ECAC #ECACHockey