RUTLAND, Vt.— Skidmore scored five first period goals on the way to a 7-4 New England Hockey Conference win at Castleton University Saturday evening.
 
The Thoroughbreds improve to 10-5-4 overall and 6-4-2 in NEHC play. Castleton drops to 5-13-2 and 3-9-1.
 
Seven different players scored in the balanced onslaught for Skidmore. Austin Rook had a goal and two assists. Callahan Johnson and John Litscher, tallied a goal and assist each, while Cole Beckstead, Reid Russell, Tyler Hall, and Mike Gelatt had two assists each.
 
Skidmore scored five goals in a wild first period. Litscher opened the offense at 6:38. Castleton scored the next two for a 2-1 lead. The Thoroughbreds responded with four goals in the final 12:45 of the period. Jonnson, William Brochu, Owen Campbell, and Rook all lit up Spartan goalie Kyle Alaverdy for a 5-2 lead at the first intermission.
 
The Spartans made it interesting with the lone to goals of the second period to cut it to 5-4.
 
Skidmore tacked on two more in the third for the 7-4 final. Avery Steele scored at 5:04 and Matt Muzyka had the empty netter at 19:43.
 
Brandon Kasel got the win in net with 34 saves.
 
Skidmore travels to Hobart on Jan. 31 for a 7 p.m. NEHC contest. The two teams are tied for fourth heading into their home-and-home weekend.