RUTLAND, Vt. – Kayser Raei netted the game-winning goal with less than four minutes left in regulation to give the Skidmore College hockey team a 3-2 New England Hockey Conference win Friday night at Spartan Arena.
 
The Thoroughbreds (6-17-1, 4-12-1 NEHC) moves into a tie for sixth place in the NEHC with one game to play. Skidmore is at league leader Norwich Saturday at 4 p.m. The Spartans (7-14-3, 3-13-1 NEHC)  drop to eight place

Raei tallied his second goal of the night with 3:50 left to play after Castleton had been forcing heavy pressure in the offensive end. With the game all locked at 2-2 aside, Skidmore broke through as Paul Vella had an initial shot deflected over to the left wing circle. Brandon Borges picked up the loose puck and delivered a quick strike to Raei in the high slot, where he one-timed a low shot through the five hole to seal the 3-2 victory.

Castleton took its first lead of the night early in the third period on Ryan Smith's first tally of the season. to give the Spartans a brief 2-1 lead 4:07 into the third.
Skidmore answered just 45 seconds later, once again with Raei on the goal from Borges and Vella. This time, Raei roofed a tough-angled shot from the left wing faceoff circle that rattled under the crossbar and hit the inside of the netting to tie the game at 2-2 and set up the Thoroughbreds for the game-winning goal down the stretch.

The Thoroughbreds took an early 1-0 lead with a power-play goal by Matt Wolf 4:28 into the contest. Max Hegge and Tim Allen received assists as Skidmore enforced heavy pressure with the man advantage.

Shots finished 29-25 in favor of Skidmore. Brandon Kasel had 23 saves for the Thoroughbreds. The Spartans went 0-for-3 on the power play, while Skidmore finished 1-for-7.