By Jordan J. Michael

SCHENECTADY –– The Skating Dutchmen had an unexpected early exit in last year’s playoffs. The team got redemption on Tuesday night.

Union College’s Achilles Rink played host to a 4-to-1 Guilderland win over LaSalle Institute on Tuesday. The top scoring line of Dan Dickinson, Colin Burg, and Greg Warnken combined for nine total points.

“My top line could be the best in Section II,” said Head Coach John DeRubertis. “They’re very talented and, when they’re really hot, the other lines create a good band of support around them.”

The Dutchmen beat LaSalle on its home ice back in January, but there was a lot more on the line in the first-round of the Capital District High School Hockey League playoffs.

“We weren’t going to allow ourselves to be denied two years in a row as the higher seed,” DeRubertis said after the game. “Mental preparation was lacking last year, so we found a way to overcome that this time.”

Guilderland and LaSalle shared possession of the puck for most of the first period. It was mainly a middle-third contest until Burg broke free.

Dickinson found a bolting Burg with about five minutes to go in the opening period for the first goal of the game. Burg used the LaSalle defender as a mini screen while he was shooting from the goalie’s left.

It was Burg’s 15^th goal of the season and the Dutch took the 1-to-0 lead into the first intermission. Guilderland had seven shots to LaSalle’s six.

“It’s always great to get that first goal of the game,” said Burg. “It sets the tone and makes the other team play catch-up.”

The Skating Dutchmen wouldn’t let much time go by before it scored 30 seconds into the second period. Dickinson and Burg completed two quick passes that found a wide- open Warnken in front of the net. It was now a 2-to-0 advantage for Guilderland.

The Cadets would get it right back with a power play goal at about three minutes in. Vince Planz put the puck past a sprawling Mike Alsante and the lead was cut in half, 2 to 1.

“Things were looking real good after that second goal and I told the guys not to let up,” said DeRubertis. “LaSalle slipped in a quick goal and we were back at square one again.”

Warnken found Dickinson with 3:18 left in the second period to give the Dutch a two-goal lead going into the final period. Guilderland controlled most of the offensive pressure in the second session.

“The third goal gave us a nice cushion and enough confidence to close out the win,” said Dickinson. “There was no lack of motivation this time.”

The Dutchmen didn’t let up in the third period and Dickinson put in another goal to ice the victory, his 24^th goal of the year and second of the game. Joe Romano and Burg got assists.

“My top line is the vast majority of our scoring,” DeRubertis said. “Dickinson, Burg, and Warnken are constantly feeding each other the puck. It’s a beautiful thing to watch.”

Dickinson finished with two assists and two goals and Burg added two assists and a goal. Warnken had one goal and one assist. Alsante had 20 saves for Guilderland.

The team travels to top-seeded Shaker-Colonie on Friday for a semi-final match-up. “It’ll be a really tough game. We lost by one to them at home this year,” added DeRubertis.

“There is no stopping our scoring line,” said Burg. “We can match the intensity of any team.”