Box Score

Rutland, Vt.-- The Skidmore College hockey team shut down the nation's top offense to earn the final home ice slot for the ECAC East playoffs with a 1-0 road win over #7 Castleton State College.

Castleton was shutout for the first time since December 2009,  dropping to 17-6-2 overall and 12-4-2 in the ECAC East. The Spartans will enter the playoffs as the No. 2 seed. Skidmore will be the fourth seed, improving to 11-12-2 overall and 9-9-0 in conference action. 

The Thoroughbreds will host UMASS Boston on Feb. 25 at a time TBA in an ECAC East Quarterfinal.
 
Both teams had their chances in the first two periods, but neither could find the back of the net. Senior Seth McNary (Woburn, Mass.) was strong in net, denying the Thoroughbreds multiple opportunities in front and finishing with 18 saves through the first 40 minutes. His counterpart, Colin Bessey (Montclair, N.J.), shut down the nation's highest scoring offense in the first two periods, with 13 saves.
 
Skidmore earned a power play opportunity just 2:50 into the final period and connected at the 3:40 mark to grab a 1-0 advantage. Aaron Beck (Maribel, Wisc.) pushed the puck home right in front on assists from Alex Essaris (Dollard-Des-Ormaux, Que.) and Julian Malakorn (Warwick, R.I.).
 
The Spartans tried to counter but couldn't light the lamp, even with an extra defender on the ice in the final minute. Bessey earned the shutout with 20 stops in net.