SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.—The 10^th ranked Skidmore College hockey team fell 5-3 to number 1 Hobart College Friday night in New England Hockey Conference action. It was the first conference loss of the season for the Thoroughbreds who are 9-2-2 overall and 5-1-1 in NEHC play. The Statesmen are 12-2 and 6-1 in league play.

• Skidmore struck first when Jason Franczak caught the top part of the net with a rocket from 20 feet in front of the net at 3:18 of the first. Jack Strauss and Kevin Urquhart assisted. Hobart scored the next three goals, including a pair of power-play tallies to take a 3-1 lead at the end of the first. Brandon Sacchetti scored at 5:51 and Tanner Daniels struck at 6:29. Bauer Morrissey made it 3-1 at 14:48.
• The Thoroughbreds clawed back to tie it in the second. Connor Wood scored his second goal of the season at 9:36 from Stephen Perez and Everett Wardle. Perez tied it less than two minutes later with a perfect shot from the point for his first goal of the season from Nick Cozzi and Mason Beecher at 11:17. The Statesmen went back in front at 14:14 on Artem Buzoverya's third goal of the season.
• A back and forth third period featured few whistles and end-to-end action with decent scoring chances for both teams, but an empty net goal for Hobart secured the 5-3 win.
• Hobart had a 34-24 shot advantage. Skidmore goalie Blaine Moore had 29 saves. Damon Beaver had 21 saves for the Statesmen.
• Hobart still hasn't allowed a power-play goal this season. The Statesmen killed off a 5:00 major in the first period and has held opponents off the board in 40 chances in 14 games.
• Skidmore's three goals against the stingy Hobart defense is the most allowed by the Statesmen in the last seven games.
• Skidmore will play its third straight game against a top-7 team on Saturday when the Thoroughbreds host #3 Elmira College at 4 p.m.