Box Score

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.-- New England College broke open a tight game with a pair of late third-period goals, including an empty-netter in a 4-1 win over Skidmore College in an Eastern College Athletic Conference East men's hockey contest, Friday night at the Saratoga Springs City Rink.
 
The Thoroughbreds (2-2, 1-2 ECAC East) return to action Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m. in a home game against St. Anselm College. The Pilgrims (1-2-1, 1-2) travel to Castleton State College on Saturday.
 
NEC came out strong in the first period firing 20 shots on goal, scoring twice to take a 2-0 lead. Cheyne Matheson scored on a second chance from Kyle Arenson and Bryce Nielson at 14:05.  Chris Santello made it 2-0 with an unassisted goal off a turnover at 18:34.
 
Skidmore rebounded in the second period, getting a goal back when Marc Cibelli scored his first of the season at 4:46 from Christian Leahy and Anthony Bird.
 
The third period was scoreless until Kyle Manlow tipped in a power-play goal at 15:45 for a 3-1 NEC.  Matheson and Garrett Brazzier were credited with an assist. The Thoroughbreds had killed six straight penalties, before the goal.   Nielson closed out the scoring with an empty netter at 18:37.
 
The Pilgrims finished with a 36-22 shot advantage.
 
Jack McDonald was solid in net for Skidmore with 32 saves. Sebastian Anderson picked-up his first win of the season with 21 saves for NEC.