University of Massachusets Athletics
No. 14 Minutemen Take On Union Dutchmen Saturday
November 24, 2006 | Hockey
Nov. 24, 2006
AMHERST, Mass. - The Mass Attack faces Union College this Saturday in a nonconference matchup. This marks the first meeting between the school since 1998. Fans that can't make it to the game can listen live for FREE via umassathletics.com. The Minutemen are currently in fifth place in the league standings, one point out of second and five out of first, and are ranked No. 14 by both the USCHO.com/CSTV and USA Hockey/USA Today national polls. The last time UMass was ranked No. 14 was Jan. 19, 2004 (USA Today poll); Feb. 2, 2004 (USCHO.com).
LAST TIME OUT
The Minutemen (6-2-1, 4-2-0 HEA) dropped a 3-0 decision to Vermont on Tuesday, marking their first home loss of the season as well as their first time being shutout. Last Saturday, UMass topped the Huskies of Connecticut 8-1, thanks to an incredible 15-point effort by the line of Chris Capraro-Cory Quirk-Chris Davis. Quirk registered his first collegiate hat trick in the win, while he and his linemates set personal bests for goals, assists and points in a single. Defenseman Mike Kostka also set a new personal best for assists and points in a game with his four helpers.
Quirk was also named the UMass/Dinn Bros. Co-Athlete of the Week for his efforts.
SCOUTING THE DUTCHMEN
Union is at .500 on the season with a 3-3-2 record, but have only played two conference games, going 1-1-0. The Dutchmen started the 2006-07 season with a convincing sweep of Ferris State on the road, but followed that with an 0-3-2 winless streak. Most recently, Union defeated Princeton 4-3 in overtime. It will face Army on Friday evening to open the weekend.
Sophomore T.J. Fox leads the Dutchmen in scoring with 10 points (4g, 6a), followed by Josh Coyle (9), Matt Cook and Augie DiMarzo (7 each). Justin Mrazek has been in net for the majority of games this season, going 3-2-2 with a 3.40 GAA and .896 sv%
FOR STARTERS
Massachusetts is 4-1-1 all-time against Union, dating back to Jan. 6, 1936, a 13-2 win for UMass (then the Massachusetts Agricultural College). UMass' lone loss came to the Dutchmen on Nov. 9, 1994 by the score of 6-3. This will mark the first time the schools have met under Head Coach Don Cahoon (2000-present). However, Cahoon is 11-6-3 all-time against the Dutchmen, dating back to his tenure at Princeton (1991-2000).
`QUICK'LY BECOMING ONE OF THE LEAGUE'S BEST
Jon Quick (So., G, Hamden, Conn./Avon Old Farms) backstopped UMass to its sixth win of the season, with a 27-save effort against UConn to keep the Minutemen's then-four-game winning streak intact. Quick's eight consecutive starts is a career high, while his save percentage and GAA rank in the top 10 nationally. Among league netminders, his save percentage (.941) and GAA (1.78) rank first and second, respectively. He has allowed two or fewer goals in seven of eight contests.
