Courtesy of: Skidmore Sports Information

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.— Castleton scored the game's first four goals on the way to a 9-4 ECAC East hockey win over Skidmore College, Friday night at the Saratoga Springs City Rink.

The loss drops the Thoroughbreds to 10-12-2 overall and 9-8 in the East. The seventh ranked Spartans are 17-5-2 and 12-3-2.  The teams will play again Saturday at 7 p.m. in Rutland to close out the regular season.

Nick Lazorko had three goals to lead Castleton. The sophomore forward has 23 goals and 17 assists for 40 points on the season.  

The Spartans jumped out to a 3-0 first period lead and then scored an early goal in the second to take a 4-0 lead.  Ben Schoeneberger, Lazorko, and Ryan Frost scored the first period goals with Lazorko scoring the fourth 13 seconds into the second period.

Zack Menard got the Thoroughbreds on the board with a shorthanded goal at 5:38 of the second from Nick Dupuis and Brad Schuler.  David Limoges cut the lead to 4-2 at 15:30 from Chris Powers and Nick Mannarino.  Castleton took a 5-2 lead into the second break with Dan Bell's 15th goal of the season at 18:39.

The Spartans extended the lead to 7-2 in the third on goals by Brett Zeggil andLazorko.  Skidmore fought back with goals by Jack Walsh at 7:26 and and Limoge at 14:51, but Castleton scored the final two when Zeggil and Schoeneberger picked-up the second goals of the game at15:32 and 16:49 respectively.

Limogefinished with two goals and an assist for the Thoroughbreds.

Colin Bessey played 43:51, stopping 16 of 22 shots, while John Bienkowski had three saves in 16:09.  Thomas Shelley earned the win for Castleton with 23 saves.