Box Score

BIDDEFORD, Maine -- The University of New England men's ice hockey squad never trailed on the way to a 4-2 ECAC East League victory over Skidmore College on Saturday afternoon (Jan. 18) at the Harold Alfond Forum.

With two wins in a league weekend for the first time this season, the Nor'easters (4-7-0 ECAC East) improve to 7-10-1 overall. The seven triumphs set a new single-season record for the program.

The Thoroughbreds (6-7-5) fell for the third time in four outings, and sit at 2-5-4 in ECAC East action.

UNE took the lead in the 1st period (11:29) when first-year Trevor Fleurent put one past Skidmore starting goalie Jack McDonald. Classmate David Goff and senior Sean Sullivan assisted on the play.

The visitors tied things midway through the 2nd frame on the power play, as Ondrej Krajnak redirected a shot at the right post off passes from Marc Cibelli and Vlad Gavrik.

But less than two minutes later, Big Blue junior Patrick Borer sent a drive from the blue line through a crowd in front to put the hosts back on top for good. Sophomore Sam Vikich won a face-off at the left circle right to classmate Jared Melman along the boards, who slid it back to Borer at the point.

With four minutes to play in the middle stanza, sophomore Tom Gildersleeve made it 3-1 Nor'easters, firing one from the left wall just inside the near post. Vikich and sophomore Cassidy April helped setup the goal.

Moments into the 3rd period, Skidmore managed to cut the deficit in half, when Anthony Bird carried the puck from the left corner towards the net and put back the rebound off his initial shot.

After the Thoroughbreds had pulled the goalie for an extra skater, UNE secured possession in its defensive zone and connected with junior Zach Lokey up the right wing for an insurance goal for the second time in as many days. Classmates Chris Glover and Zeth Zielinski registered assists on the play.

Junior Colby Drost turned in 31 saves for Big Blue, which heads to Vermont next weekend for dates with league-leading Norwich University (Friday) and Saint Michael's College (Saturday).

Skidmore, which returns home to face Saint Anselm and New England College, got 15 stops out of McDonald and 10 more from Ben Freiberg.


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