Posted by Skidmore Athletics
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Anthony Scarpino scored the game-winner off a faceoff at 18:46 of the third period to lead the Hamilton College hockey team to a 4-3 win over Skidmore College in the Skidmore Invitational Tournament championship game, Sunday at the Saratoga Springs City Rink.
In the penalty-filled consolation game, SUNY Brockport scored five times in the third period for a 7-3 win over Nichols College.
The championship game featured four lead changes with neither team leading by more than a goal.
Aaron Beck '14 opened the scoring for the Thoroughbreds (3-5) at 4:48 of the first from Tony Giacin '14 and Tim Colvin '15. The Continentals (2-1-1) tied it at 10:19 when Bryan Kelly scored from Brian Infante and Andrew Jelinek. Skidmore took a 2-1 lead into the locker room when Brendan Cottom '13 scored a power-play goal at 12:17 from Nick Dupuis '12 and Zach Menard '13.
Hamilton scored the lone second period goal when Pat Curtis connected from Michael DiMare and Scarpino at 8:53 to tie it 2-2.
The teams traded unsuccessful chances in the third until Bryan Kelly's power-play shot from the point gave Hamilton its first lead of the game, 3-2, at 14:52 from DiMare and Curtis.
The Continentals were called for a hit from behind major at 15:21 and Skidmore took advantage when Dupuis collected a rebound and fired it home to tie it 3-3 at 16:02 from Colvin and Julian Malakorn '13.
A Thoroughbred penalty at 18:44 led to a faceoff in Skidmore's defensive end that DiMare won, sending the puck to Scarpino who one-timed it for the game winner at 18:46.
Skidmore had a 24-21 shot advantage. Colin Bessey '12 had 17 saves for the Thoroughbreds, while Joe Quattrocchi stopped 21 shots for the Continentals.
DiMare earned tournament MVP honors and was joined by Quattrocchi on the all-tournament team. Representing Skidmore were Giacin and Alex Essaris '12. Brockport's James Cody and Louie Educate of Nichols were also selected to the team.
In the consolation game, Brockport (2-6-2) and Nichols (1-5-1) combined for 96 minutes in penalties.
After a scoreless first period, the Bison grabbed a 2-0 on a pair of second-period goals by Educate. Brockport tied it on a power-play goal by Cody at 16:30 and a tally by Troy Polino at 17:30.
Cody gave the Golden Eagles a 3-2 lead with a short-handed goal at 2:08 of the third. Steve Sachman extended the lead to 4-2 with a power-play goal at 7:27. Nichols stayed close when Andrew Ella scored his first of the season at 10:00 to cut it to 4-3.
Brockport opened it up with three goals in the final 2:10 for the 7-3 win. Cody scored his hat trick at 17:50, followed by a Polino goal at 18:33 and Colby Spooner's first of the season at 19:21.
The Golden Eagles had a commanding 37-21 shot advantage. Jacob Rinn had 30 saves for Nichols, while Aaron Green stopped 18 shots for Brockport.