Muthersbaugh’s Five-Point Night Leads Union To Victory Over Mercyhurst

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – First-year Ben Muthersbaugh recorded five points (3-2-5) to pace the Union College men’s hockey team to a 6-2 non-conference win over Mercyhurst University on Friday night at Messa Rink.

Muthersbaugh scored not only his first collegiate goal, but his first collegiate hat trick, while adding assists on both of junior Nate Hanley’s goals. The first-year is the first Union skater to score five points in a game since Mike Vecchione ’17 recorded five (4-1-5) on October 22, 2016. Muthersbaugh becomes the first Union rookie to score a hat trick since Daniel Carr ’14 recorded one in a 6-2 win against Army West Point on December 11, 2010.  

Eleven different skaters found the scoresheet in the win for Union (3-1-0). Hanley scored two goals and an assist while junior Parker Lindauer scored a goal for the second game in a row. Senior Caden Villegas notched two assists for his first multi-point game of the season. The line of Muthersbaugh, Hanley, and Villegas combined for a 10-point night (5-5-10).

Mercyhurst found the back of the net early in the first period. After sophomore Jacob Jeannette was called for interference only 21 seconds into the game, the Lakers made quick work of the early power-play opportunity. Will Margel scored on the powerplay at 1:25 of the game. Down by one with just under 21.3 seconds to go in the period, Muthersbaugh scored his first collegiate goal off a pass from junior Brandon Buhr. Only 11.3 seconds later, Muthersbaugh found the back of the net again to put Union up 2-1 going into the first intermission.

Lindauer made it a…