SMC Athletics PR -

SKIDMORE MEN RALLY PAST PURPLE KNIGHTS, 6-3

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                               FOR MORE INFORMATION
January 31, 2004                                                                                Contact: Seth Cole
By Matthew Lyons ‘06                                                                        Phone: (802) 654-2537

SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. – Freshman Rob Hutchison (Waterville, N.Y.) and junior Pat Bigelow (Walpole, Mass.) each scored twice as Skidmore College rallied past Saint Michael’s College, 6-3, in ECAC East men’s hockey action on Saturday at Cairns Arena.

Bigelow added a pair of assists while Hutchison contributed one helper. Junior Nate Smith (Melrose Park, Pa.) chipped in a goal and an assist for the Thoroughbreds, while sophomore Mike Mansfield (Arlington, Mass.) made 29 saves for Skidmore (7-11-0, 4-8-0 ECAC East).

For the Purple Knights, who scored all their goals on the power play, sophomore Jonathan Perez (Sherman Oaks, Calif./Berkshire School) tallied a goal and an assist, while senior Mike Duffy (Malone, N.Y./Nepean Raiders) and freshman Jared Silver (Montreal, Quebec/Tabor Academy) also lit the lamp. Freshman Derek Jackson (Clinton, N.Y./Gunnery School) stopped 34 shots for Saint Michael’s (7-10-0, 4-8-0 ECAC East).

Skidmore scored the lone goal of a penalty-plagued first period, as Hutchison scored a four-on-four goal at 6:41 on assists from Smith and sophomore Jimmy DeLeon (Nashville, Tenn.). The freshman carried the puck down the left wing boards before cutting to the goal and beating Jackson through the five-hole.

Saint Michael’s evened the score four minutes into the second frame as Duffy redirected a shot from Perez, with sophomore Alex Watts (Cheshire, Conn./Berkshire School) earning the second assist. The Thoroughbreds regained their lead three minutes later when Smith scored his third goal of the season.

The Saint Michael’s power play struck again with six minutes to go in the period. Perez’ shot from the point eluded Mansfield, as seniors Brent Hill (St. Albert, Alberta/St. Albert Saints) and Justin Quenneville (Montreal, Quebec/Stanstead College) picked up the assists.

The Purple Knights took their only lead, 3-2, three minutes into the final period. Silver extended his scoring streak to nine games, scoring on assists from juniors Nick Towne (Milton, Vt./Green Mountain Glades) and Matt Anctil (Wolfboro, N.H./Exeter SnowDevils). The hosts maintained their one-goal lead until 8:20 left in regulation, as Bigelow evened the score. Just 1:28 later, senior defenseman Neil Bryant (W. Sand Lake, N.Y.) gave the Thoroughbreds the lead for good on the power play. Hutchison added his second of the game with 4:09 to go, and Bigelow’s empty-netter in the final seconds sealed the win.

Saint Michael’s plays its next three contests on the road, beginning with Tuesday’s Northeast-10 Conference game at Southern New Hampshire University, before returning home to take on New England College Friday, Feb. 13 at 7 p.m.

GAME SUMMARY
Skidmore 1 1 4 --6
Saint Michael’s 0 2 1 --3

First period: Scoring: 1. SKD, Hutchinson (Smith, DeLeon), 6:41. Penalties: Duffy, SMC (hooking), 5:04; Yost, SKD (holding), 5:16, Mullins, SMC (hitting after whistle and 10-min. misconduct), 7:23; S. Williams, SMC (elbowing), 13:17; Bigelow, SKD (cross-checking), 15:10; Silver, SMC (delay of game), 18:41; Bannon, SKD (delay of game), 18:41.

Second period: Scoring: 2. SMC, Duffy (Perez, Watts), 4:03 (pp). 3. SKD, Smith (Spinella, Lampman), 7:00. 4. SMC, Perez (Hill, Quenneville), 13:57 (pp). Penalties: Bryant, SKD (elbowing), 2:51; Martin, SKD (10 min. Misconduct), 4:56; Ciardullo, SMC (cross-checking), 7:59; Smith, SKD (tripping), 13:12; Mullins, SMC (hitting from behind), 14:28; Dancey, SMC (contact to the head), 15:47.

Third period: Scoring: 5. SMC, Silver (Towne, Anctil), 3:04 (pp). 6. SKD, Bigelow (Hutchison), 11:40. 7. SKD, Bryant (Martin, Bigelow), 13:08 (pp). 8. SKD, Hutchison (Holt, Bigelow), 15:51. 9. SKD, Bigelow (Holt), 19:59. Penalties: Martorana, SKD (high-sticking), 2:13; Martorana, SKD (obstruction-hooking), 4:19; Silver, SMC (contact to the head), 12:22.

Shots: SKD (15 – 12 – 13 – 40), SMC (9 – 12 – 11 – 32).

Saves: SKD, Mansfield (32 shots, 29 saves); SMC, Jackson (39 shots, 34 saves).

For complete box score, click here.

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For more information please contact the SMC Sports Information Office at (802) 654-2537
Last Revised: October 25, 2002