Box Score

Saratoga Springs, N.Y. – .Senior forward Mike Gibbons (Braintree, Mass.) netted two goals to lead the Skidmore College ice hockey team past Tufts University, 5-2 in an ECAC East-NESCAC crossover game Friday at the Saratoga Springs City Ice Rink.

The Thoroughbreds improve to 8-5 and 4-4 in conference play while the Jumbos fall to 6-5 and 3-4.

Skidmore took a 1-0 lead in the first as freshman Sasha Thomas (Gatineau, Quebec) redirected a shot from junior Chris Webb (Holliston, Mass.) for the goal at 8:30. 

Tufts evened the score 1:07 into the second as senior Jared Melillo (Medford, Mass.) put one in from Matt Amico (Buffalo, N.Y.) and Fredrick Mellgren (Shoreview, Minn.).

Gibbons' first score came off a good feed from Thomas that put the Thoroughbreds up by one at 2:25, but the Jumbo's answered back to tie, 2-2, when freshman Evan Story (Shaker Heights, Ohio) put in a loose puck in front of the net from Dylan Cooper (Colorado Springs, Colo.). 

Thoroughbred senior Tim Welsh (Manchester Center, Vt.) netted what would be the game winner when his shot off a pass from Nick Dupuis (Holyoke, Mass.) hit the crossbar and found the net to go ahead 3-2 at 14:24 in the second. 

Skidmore sealed the win in the third period with goals by Gibbons and Hunter Thayer (Shelburne, Vt.) for the 5-2 win. 

Freshman goaltender Andrew Ross (McKinney, Texas) improved to 5-2 this season, tallying 16 of his 26 saves in the first period for the Thoroughbreds.  Freshman Scott Barchard (Reading, Mass.) picked up 29 saves for Tufts. 

Skidmore hosts Connecticut College in league action Saturday at 4:00 pm.