Saratoga Springs, N.Y.--  The road to the NCAA tournament begins Saturday night at the Saratoga Springs City Rink when the Skidmore College hockey team takes on UMASS Boston in an Eastern College Athletic Conference East quarterfinal.  
 
The puck drops at 7 p.m. Tickets are $5 general admission and $3 for students with ID and children under 12.  The first 200 Skidmore students will be admitted free with ID, courtesy of the Student Government Association and the Dean of Students.
 
The Thoroughbreds are 11-12-2 overall, but 7-3-1 over the last 11 games, including a 3-2 win over top-seed Norwich.  The Beacons are 13-9-3 and also have a 2-1 win over Norwich.   Skidmore swept the season series with a 4-0 win on Nov. 18 in Saratoga and a 4-2 win on Feb. 4 in Boston.
 
Sophomore forward Tony Giacin leads Skidmore in scoring with 13 goals and 10 assists for 23 points. Senior defenseman Nick Dupuis is next with 7-14--21 and junior defenseman Zach Menard has 5-13--18.  Senior goalie Colin Bessey has is coming off a 1-0 road shutout of second-seed Castleton State. He has a overall .892 save percentage and 3.21 goals against average, but a 2.81 GAA and .905 save% against ECAC East teams.
 
Anthony Fitti leads UMB in scoring with 10-17--27, while Travis Daniel has 10-14--24.  Goalies Kevin Bendel (2.11, .929) and Alex Scola (2.77, .893) have split starts this season.  Bendel had both starts against the Thoroughbreds.
 
Saturday's other quarterfinal match-ups feature #8 University of New England at #1 Norwich, #7 New England College at #2 Castleton State, and #6 Southern Maine at #3 Babson.  The semifinals and championship will be held March 2-3 at the highest remaining seed.