SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The Skidmore College men's hockey team scored two third-period goals to break a 1-1 tie and defeat visiting Southern Maine University on Saturday 3-1.

• Skidmore, with back-to-back wins, improves to 9-10 overall and 7-7 (21 points) in the New England Hockey Conference (NEHC). With six games left, the Thoroughbreds are seventh and just two points back of fifth, and five out of third.
• The Thoroughbreds close with all six of their remaining games against teams currently ahead of them in the standings, but none more than five points in front.
• Southern Maine is 5-13-1 on the season and 2-11-1 in the conference for six points.
• It was the season first sweep for a team in the head-to-head series since the 2018-19 season. It was the last time the long-tenured conference rivals will meet in the regular season. USM leads the all-time series slightly, 22-20-5.
• Sophomore Jacob Zwirecki scored the winner for Skidmore at 11:51 of the third. It was the blue-liner's second goal of the weekend. Freddie Ilias made it happen. After receiving a drop pass from Oscar Worob at the blue line, the right-handed defenseman skated in and made a deke around one Huskie before connecting with Zwirecki for the forehand one-timer alone in the slot.
• Skidmore took a stranglehold on the contest when it added an insurance marker just 1:33 later on the power play. Kaeden Patrick carried the puck behind the USM net and connected with first-year Evan Brown for a heavy one-time blast from the right dot. It was the rookie's eighth of the season. Ryan Waltman, who scored Skidmore's first goal, also had an assist.
• Southern Maine appeared to cut the deficit in half down the stretch, but the goal was waved off due to a kicking violation.
• Following a scoreless first period, Waltman scored, also on the power play, at the 6:12 mark of the second period on a toss towards the net that took a fortuitous bounce off a Huskie skate. Patrick and Ilias assisted as the pair both collected two helpers on the night.
• Southern Maine tied it up at one with 8:37 left in the middle period. Gage LeTourneau shoved in his own rebound for the equalizer.
• Skidmore converted twice in four power-play chances while holding the visitors scoreless in two opportunities.
• Skidmore outshot the Huskies 44-28. Joshua Seeley earned his second win in as many days with 27 saves.
• Kyle Penton turned aside 41 shots for USM.
• The Huskies got off to a huge lead in the faceoff department, reversing the script from Friday night, but it finished at just 39-31 advantage Southern Maine.

UP NEXT

• Skidmore is back home next weekend to host Albertus Magnus College for a pair. Friday, Feb. 7 will be Faculty & Staff Appreciation Night. Puck drops at 7 p.m.