Box Score

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.— Skidmore freshman defenseman Connor Pelkey had a hat trick, but the Thoroughbreds were one short in a 5-4 ECAC East loss to St. Michael's College, Saturday evening at the Saratoga Springs City Rink.
 
The Thoroughbreds drop to 2-8-1 overall and 1-7 in the East, while the Purple Knights are 5-3-2 and 4-2-1 in the East.
 
Both teams had opportunities early, with St. Michael's striking first on a rebound goal from in front by Justin McKenzie at 12:27. William Cote and Ian Speliotis assisted.   Skidmore took advantage of the only power play in the period to tie it. Connor Pelkey's outside shot found its way through traffic and past Purple Knight goalie Dave Donzanti at 18:19. The power-play goal was assisted by Andreas Michailidis and Ondrej Krajnak.
 
St. Michael's had a strong second period scoring two goals on 18 shots, including nine during two power plays. Mike Schreiner scored on a rebound at 7:00 when the Josh Dickman's shot rattled off the post. Shawn Morrow had the second assist. The Purple Knights went up 3-1 on a goal by Morrow at 13:40 from Schreiner and Eric Robinson.
 
Brodie McCusker made it 4-1 off a rebound from Danny Divis and Mark Higgins at 5:55 of the third. Pelkey kept the Thoroughbreds in it with a power-play goal at 14:02 from Mikey Foley and Ondrej Krajnak.   A.J.  Pieprzak put St. Michael's back up by three, 5-2, with his sixth of the season at 17:52 from Kevin Altidor and Jeremy Wong.
 
Skidmore didn't quit, scoring seven seconds later, when Sean Timmons connected for his third of the season from Anthony Bird and Marc Cibelli.   With goalie Jack McDonald on the bench, Pelkey  found the net just inside the blue line for his third of the game and fifth of the season from Cibelli and Bird at 19:17. 
 
The Thoroughbreds had one more chance, but the Purple Knights were able to clear the zone for the 5-4 win.
 
McDonald had 30 saves for Skidmore, while Donzanti finished with 23 for St. Michael's.
 
Skidmore is off until a Jan. 2 non-conference game at Nichols College.