SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.—The Skidmore College men's hockey team withstood a late UMASS-Boston surge for a 4-3 New England Hockey Conference win Saturday evening at the Saratoga Springs City Rink. It was the first six-point league weekend for the Thoroughbreds who move to 10-4-1 overall and 4-3-1 in NEHC play. The Beacons are 6-9 and 3-5.
 

• Skidmore spread out the offense with four different scoring goals. Devin Mussio, Thomas Finck, Nick Cozzi, and Zach Frisk all scored. Frisk added a pair of assists for a three-point game.
• The Thoroughbreds jumped in front 2-0. Mussio opened the scoring at 6:04 of the first from Kaeden Patrick and Zach Lindwirth. Finck made it 2-0 at 11:27 with his ninth goal of the season from Frisk and Lindwirth.
• Mike Manzo got UMB on the board at 6:29 of the second, but Skidmore scored the next two to up the lead to 4-1. Cozzi scored off a faceoff win by Mason Beecher at 11:15 of the second with Frisk getting the other assist.
• Frisk tallied an important unassisted insurance goal at 4:12 of the third for the 4-1 margin. The Beacons cut it to 4-3 on a goal by Ty Mathews at 5:57 and Evan Googins' power-play goal at 14:47.
• UMB continued to pressure the Thoroughbreds over the final minutes, pulling goalie Sam Best for the final 2:03. Skidmore held though with Brandon Tate making several consecutive saves down the stretch.
• Tate finished with 32 saves, including 10 in the third period.
• The win moves Skidmore into a tie with New England College for fifth in the NEHC with a game in-hand over the Pilgrims.
• The Thoroughbreds are 7-1-1 at home and unbeaten (7-0-1) in their last eight home games.
• The win was the first regular-season victory over the Beacons since a 3-2 overtime win on Feb. 2, 2018. Skidmore eliminated UMB, 5-3 in the 2022 NEHC quarterfinals. The Beacons have a narrow 18-17-6 series lead.
• NEXT UP: Skidmore has its home-and-home series with travel partner Castleton University. The Thoroughbreds are home Friday, Jan. 13 at 7 p.m. and at Castleton on Jan. 14 at 7 p.m.