Box Score

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.--The Skidmore College hockey team returned to ECAC East action with a 3-1 win over Castleton State College, Tuesday night at the Saratoga Springs City Rink.
 
The Thoroughbreds (6-4-4, 2-4-3 ECAC East) pick-up a key two points as they reach the halfway point of the conference schedule. The Spartans are 7-6-1 overall and 4-4-1 in the East.
 
Skidmore took a 1-0 lead with the lone goal of the first period. Brian McQuillan and Tony Giacin forced a neutral zone turnover in the front of the Castleton bench that sent Aaron Beck in alone for his team-high 11^th of the season at 7:03.
 
The Spartans tied it early in the second period when Brian Greene knocked down a clearing pass and sent Brock Labelle in on a short breakaway for his first collegiate goal at 2:23.  The Thoroughbreds rallied right back with two quick goals in a 1:59 span to take the final 3-1 lead. Giacin scored at 3:06 from Anders Gundersen and Sam Bloom scored his first collegiate goal from Vlad Gavrik at 5:05.
 
Neither team found the net in the third period with each team unable to convert on power-play opportunities.
 
For the game, Castleton was 0-5 on the power play, while Skidmore was 0-4.  The Thoroughbreds have allowed only eight power-play goals in 14 game, ranking 15th nationally in penalty kill with an 87.7 percentage.
 
Skidmore goalie Jack McDonald had another solid game with 30 saves, including two skate saves during a third period Castleton power play.   Erick Cinotti had 19 saves for the Spartans.
 
The Thoroughbreds travel to the North Country next for non-league games against Plattsburgh (Jan. 10) and Potsdam (Jan. 11). Castleton plays the opposite schedule with Potsdam on the 10th and Plattsburgh on the 11th. All games are at 7 p.m.