HENNIKER, N.H. – The New England College men's ice hockey team lost 2-1 against visiting Skidmore College, the ninth-ranked team in the nation, on Friday evening at Lee Clement Arena in Henniker, New Hampshire in New England Hockey Conference (NEHC) action.

THE BASICS
Score:                    Skidmore 2, New England College 1
Records:               Pilgrims 3-17-1, 1-12-1 | Mustangs 15-3-2, 10-2-1

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Mustangs got on the board first 5:45 into the first period when Skidmore sophomore Matthew Franzoi (Oakville, Ont.) scored his first goal of the season, that score assisted by sophomore forward Oscar Worob (Montclair, N.J.). The visitors took a 1-0 lead into the first intermission.
• Despite opening the second period with a penalty, the young 'Grims showed a renewed sense of urgency in the new frame, led by their upper classmen. NEC junior forward Wyatt Andres (Brainerd, Minn.) sniped a shot from well behind the blue line and found the netting, scoring his third goal of the season with 16:06 to go in the period, assisted by freshman defensemen Christophe Petit (Chelsea, Quebec) and Cam Perez (West Hartford, Conn.). Just like that, the hosts found themselves tied against one of the top teams in the nation, going into the final period.
• Midway through the third period and with the NEC defense still holding a costly penalty went against the Pilgrims, putting the Mustangs on the power play. With 8:05 left in the game, Skidmore junior forward Kaeden Patrick (Vancouver, B.C.) scored his team-leading tenth goal of the season, giving the lead back to the visitors with assists to junior defensemen Stephen Perez (Bloomfield, N.J.) and Danny Magnuson (Sunfish Lake, Minn.).
• With 1:34 remaining, NEC head coach Tom Carroll called timeout to rally his squad. Pulling the goalie with 1:18 left, the Pilgrims scrambled desperately to find the tying shot. But the visitors cleared it time and again, as the home team came up just short.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• NEC senior goaltender Kai Tomita (Misawa, Japan) tallied 22 saves on the night for the Pilgrims.
• Skidmore senior goalie Tate Brandon (Irvington, N.Y.) posted 18 stops for the Mustangs.

UP NEXT

• NEC is back on the ice on Saturday when they play host to Vermont State University Castleton in a 4:00 p.m. game.
• Skidmore plays their next game at Norwich University, that also coming on Saturday at 4:00 p.m.

For continuing coverage of New England College Athletics, visit athletics.nec.edu and follow the Pilgrims on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.