Box Score

BIDDEFORD, Maine -- First-year Brad Schuler (Delran, N.J.) converted a pass from classmate Dalton Weinstein (Summerville, S.C.) in front with 11:25 left in regulation to give Skidmore College a 2-1 victory over the University of New England in ECAC East men's hockey action from Biddeford Arena Friday evening.

The Thoroughbreds, now winners of five straight, improve to 8-10-2 on the year (7-5-2 ECAC East). Big Blue falls to 3-15 overall, 1-13 in league play.

After a scoreless first period, UNE first-year Matt Del Giudice (Oakland, Maine) got the hosts on the board 6:35 into the second, collecting a long, clearing pass off the wall from sophomore Brent Bourgeois (New Haven, Vt.) to go in alone on the Skidmore goalie and put his third goal of the season up high.

The Nor'easters maintained the slim edge for the next 10 minutes of the frame, thanks to a pair of quick glove saves by senior Mike Roper (New Glasgow, Nova Scotia) on two wide-open, near-post shots from the right circle.

The visitors finally broke through with 2:05 left in the second, as senior Alex Mykolenko (Kharkov, Ukraine) tallied his fifth goal of the season to level the contest at 1-1. Skidmore senior Joe Melnyk (Rotterdam, N.Y.) and junior Tyler Doremus (Aspen, Colo.) assisted on the score.

The Thoroughbreds received 25 saves from junior Colin Bessey (Montclair, N.J.), while UNE's Roper recorded 42 stops.

Both squads are back in action Saturday afternoon. Skidmore visits the University of Southern Maine (4 p.m.), while the Nor'easters entertain the nation's third-ranked team -- Castleton State College -- at 4 p.m.