Posted by Skidmore Athletics
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Babson College took a 3-0 lead and then held off a late Skidmore rally for a 4-2 ECAC East men's hockey win Saturday, Nov. 19, at the Saratoga Springs City Rink.
The Thoroughbreds are 2-4 overall and in ECAC East play. The Beavers even their record at 2-2 overall and in the East.
Ryan Smith set the tone early for Babson with his first goal of the season at 2:10 of the first on a breakaway from Shayne Anderson. Trevor Hines made it 2-0 with his first of the year from Mike Hoban and Matt Furey at 8:18. Beaver goalie Zeke Testa had 15 of his 35 saves in the first period to keep Skidmore off the board.
Babson got another quick start in the second, when Jay Haseley tallied his third of the season just 37 seconds in from Matt O'Neill and Andrew Bonazza. The Thoroughbreds battled back on a power-play goal by Vlad Gavrik '14 from David Limoges '15 and Nick Dupuis '12 at 4:48. Tim Colvin '15 pulled Skidmore to within one, 3-2, when he connected for his second of the season at 16:42 from Tony Giacin '14 and Aaron Beck '14. The Thoroughbreds continued to pressure Babson for the rest of the period, but the Beavers were able to take the 3-2 lead into the break.
Skidmore was unable to solve Testa in the third period. The goalie stopped all nine shots he saw in the final stanza, including two on a late Thoroughbred power play. Babson got a short-handed empty-net goal from Mike Driscoll at 19:31 for the 4-2 final.
Skidmore out shot Babson 37-28. Colin Bessey '12 had 24 saves for the Thoroughbreds.
Next up for Skidmore is Nichols College at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 26, in the first round of the Skidmore Invitational.