SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.—The Skidmore College hockey team picked-up two valuable points with a 2-1 New England Hockey Conference win over the University of Southern Maine Friday night at the Saratoga Springs City Rink.
 
The Thoroughbreds improve to 3-16-1 overall and 1-11-1 in the NEHC, while the Huskies fall to 3-12-4 and 3-7-3.
 
Skidmore struck first when Matt Wolf scored his first goal of the season from Owen Campbell and Max Hegge at 17:32. The Thoroughbreds had a three-on-one break when Hegge backhanded the puck to Campbell who fed Wolf for the goal.
 
USM evened it 1-1 on Michael Taormina's power-play goal at 4:32 from Jonathan Bartuccio-Pereira and Brendan Murphy.
 
The Huskie carried the play early in the third period, but Skidmore goalie Brandon Kasel was up to the task, turning away all 13 shots he faced in the period, including three straight attempts in the crease with a little over 11:00 to play in regulation.
 
Rookie Kayser Raei's first collegiate goal turned out to be the game winner at 13:11 of the third. Raei backhanded a shot right through the legs of Huskie goalie Anthony D'Aloisio. Paul Vella and Brandon Borges assisted.
 
Southern Maine had a few more quality opportunities.  With D'Aloisio out for the extra attacker, Murphy fired a shot through traffic that appeared to be headed in, but Kasel quickly adjusted for the save.
 
Kasel finished with 27 saves, while D'Aloisio had 25.
 
Skidmore is home again Saturday at 4 p.m. against New England College, while USM travels to Hobart for a 4 p.m. start.