NORTHFIELD, Vt. – The Skidmore College ice hockey team opened up New England Hockey Conference play with a heartbreaking 2-1 overtime loss to No. 12/12 Norwich, at Kreitzberg Arena Friday night.
 
Skidmore suffers its first loss of the season, falling to 1-1 overall (0-1 NEHC). Norwich, ranked 12^th in the initial d3hockey.com and USCHO.com picks up its first win of the season, improving to 1-0-1 (1-0 NEHC).
 
The Cadets opened up the scoring late into the first period. Noah Williams raced up the left wing and fired a centering pass in front of net to Todd Jackson, who popped the feed past Skidmore goalie Brandon Kasel at 18:31.
 
Norwich would continue setting the tempo in the second period, tallying 17 shots on goal, but Kasel helped to keep the Cadets off the board heading into the third.
 
Persistence paid off for the Thoroughbreds, as they tied the game early in the third period. On only its second power play opportunity of the game, Owen Campbell fired a shot from the slot that was deflected by Norwich goalie Tom Aubrun, but Matt Muzyka was on top of the rebound and flipped the puck into net. Brandon Borges also assisted on the goal at 4:48.
 
The goal boosted the Skidmore attack, as the Thoroughbreds started to get better chances at net. The Thoroughbreds nearly took the lead with 3:27 to go in regulation, as Corey Morgan took a shot from the slot that was knocked away by Aubrun, but the puck was rebounded by Matt Muzyka in front of net. Muzyka tried to knock in the rebound, but Aubrun held strong and put his body in front of the puck.
 
Norwich would earn the overtime win just 47 seconds in. A pass by Cam Beecy to Scott Swanson set up the breakaway opportunity. Swanson moved to his right at the last second and put the puck past Kasel.
 
Norwich held a 38-21 shot advantage. Skidmore would convert on one of its two power-play opportunities, while Norwich went 1-for-6.
 
Despite the loss, Kasel was solid in net, stopping 36 shots. Aubrun made 20 saves in the victory.
 
The Thoroughbreds will end the weekend with a trip to Castleton on Saturday at 4 p.m.