NORTHFIELD, Vt.—The Skidmore College men's hockey team lost a hard fought 3-2 decision to #2 Norwich University in New England Hockey Conference action Friday night.
 
The Thoroughbreds are 9-5-4 overall and 5-4-2 in NEHC play. The league leading Cadets are 15-2-2 and 10-1-1.
 
Skidmore shocked the capacity crowd early when Nicholas Charron banked a puck off a Norwich defender to give the Thoroughbreds a 1-0 lead at 4:12 of the first. Matthew Rutigliano and Misha Mrotchek assisted. Norwich tied it on a power-play goal from Phil Elgstam at 9:09.
 
The Cadets made it 2-for-2 on the power play when Felix Brassard tallied his 14^th of the season at 4:43 of the second period for a 2-1 lead. The Thoroughbreds battled back to tie it on Rutigilano's fifth goal of the year from Austin Rook and Matt Muzyka at 6:09. 
 
Norwich remained perfect on the power play when Coby Downs scored the eventual game winner at 10:21 of the second for a 3-2 lead.
 
Defense took over in the scoreless third period.
 
The Cadets had a slight 31-28 shot advantage. Brandon Kasel had 28 saves for Skidmore.
 
Norwich finished 3-5 on the power play, while the Thoroughbreds were 0-3.
 
Skidmore is at Castleton University on Saturday in a 4 p.m. NEHC contest.