SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.—The Skidmore College men's hockey team battled to the wire, dropping a 1-0 NEHC decision to Babson College, Saturday evening at the Saratoga Springs City Rink.
 
The Thoroughbreds drop to 7-10-2 overall and 6-5-1 in the NEHC, while the Beavers are 10-7-2 and 7-4-1. It was the second one goal game of the season between the two teams, with Babson taking a 2-1 win on Nov. 11.
 
There weren't a lot of grade A scoring opportunities in the first half. Babson had five of its nine shots in the final two minutes, but Thoroughbred freshman Brandon Kasel stopped them all, including a tricky deflection.
 
The Beavers broke through with a power-play goal at 14:33 of the second. Babson had a 5-on-3, but the Thoroughbreds killed the first penalty. Charlie Ackerman was wide open for his sixth goal of the season from Rob Devaney and Tommy Munichiello.
 
Skidmore nearly tied it twice in the third, including a short-handed breakaway by Anthony Bird and again in the final minute with the goalie out. Babson goalie Bryan Botcher turned away all 26 shots he faced in the contest.
 
Babson had a 32-26 shot advantage. Kasel finished with 31 saves.
 
Skidmore will play five of its final six regular season games on the road, starting Jan. 27 at St. Michael's.