NORTHFIELD, Vt. – The Skidmore College men's hockey team scored twice in the second period, out shot the hosts 15-4, and held firm to shut out nationally 11th-ranked Norwich, 3-0, at Kreitzberg Arena on Saturday.
Skidmore has won five in a row and 8-of-10. The Thoroughbreds are 12-6-1 and 7-4-1 (22 points) in the New England Hockey Conference (NEHC). At the completion of play on Saturday, Skidmore tied Norwich for third in the conference. The Cadets fall to 9-4-4 and 6-4-3 (22 points). It is just the third time that Skidmore has defeated Norwich in 35 all-time meetings between the programs.
Tate Brandon was perfect for the Thoroughbreds in goal with 26 saves for his fourth shutout of the year, which currently leads Division III. He stopped 52-of-54 (.963) shots over the weekend.
Senior defenseman
Reid Russell played a part in both goals with a goal and an assist. He held the line blue line and shot to the tip of
Freddie Macciocchi at 15:15 of the second period. It was Macciocchi's second goal in as many games. The Skidmore sophomore netted the first of his career in Friday's win at New England College.
Then, just 47 seconds later,
Devon Mussio had an offensive-zone save at nearly the same spot and dished it across the blue line to Russell, whose one-timed shot deflected off a Cadet stick and through Cadet goalie Andrew Albano.
Mike Gelatt wrapped up his four-point weekend with an empty netter on the backhand from the Skidmore side of center ice.
Penalized just twice in the game, Skidmore was forced to kill a late minor infraction to the nation's best power play with just 4:21 left in regulation. Blocks from
Matthew Monk, Thomas Fink,
Callahan Johnson, and
Mason Beecher helped alleviate the threat despite constant Norwich possession.
Albano made 28 saves for Norwich. Skidmore had a 31-28 shot advantage and blocked 15 shots to the Cadets' seven. Norwich won 35-of-58 (60.3 percent) of faceoffs, led by Patrick O'Neal, who finished 16-2.
The Thoroughbreds will look to continue the strong play as they host nationally fifth-ranked Babson College on Friday, Jan. 28 and Southern Maine on Saturday, Jan. 29.
