NORTHFIELD, Vt. - While capping a stretch of three consecutive games at nationally-ranked Division III programs, the Saint Michael's College men's ice hockey team stood tied with No. 5 Norwich University until the final minute of the second period during an eventual 6-2 loss on Friday in Kreitzberg Arena. The Purple Knights are now 1-12-1 overall and 0-9-1 in the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) East, while the Cadets are 11-3-2 and 8-1-1 and avoided their first three-game losing streak in nearly seven years.

After putting only four shots on goal and dropping a 5-0 decision to the visiting Cadets during their season opener on Nov. 8, the Purple Knights were outshot by a 35-23 margin, including holding a 14-9 advantage in the second period. That marked just the second time an opponent outshot Norwich during a period in Kreitzberg Arena this season.

Sophomore Kevin Altidor (Montreal, Quebec/Millbrook School) and first-year Stephen Inman (Coventry, R.I./Odessa Jackalopes) scored for the Purple Knights, while junior Dave Donzanti (West Chester, Pa./Northfield Mount Hermon) posted 29 saves. In the process, Altidor extended his point streak to six games, during which time he has 11 points. Junior AJ Pieprzak (Barrie, Ontario/Ridley College) dished off two assists, as he has nine points during a five-game point streak, and first-year defenseman Danny Divis (Media, Pa./The Gunnery) had one helper. Despite being a blue liner, Divis has collected seven points in his last four contests.

Senior Chris Duszynski (Okotoks, Alberta/Okotoks Oilers) scored twice for Norwich, while classmate Travis Janke (Swift Current, Saskatchewan/Notre Dame Hounds) and first-year Nick Pichette (Massena, N.Y./Valley Warriors) each had a goal and an assist. First-years Brendan Boyce (Saint Albans, Vt./Saint Paul's School) and Tyler Piacentini (South Weymouth, Mass./South Shore Kings) also scored, and senior Parker Carroll (West Chester, Pa./Wilkes Barre-Scranton Jr. Knights) had 21 stops.

Altidor lit the lamp just 4:51 into the contest to put Norwich behind in a conference home game for only the second time this year, as Saint Michael's led the Cadets during a game in Northfield for the first time in more than 15 seasons. Pieprzak provided the assist. The lead was short lived, as Janke responded just 2:26 later to knot the game, and Boyce put Norwich on top at 12:27.

The Cadets had two chances to extend their lead midway through the second period, hitting the post on back-to-back shots, and Inman capitalized on the missed opportunity by tying the game at 14:17 with a power-play tally. Divis and Pieprzak lent helpers. Norwich again responded in a timely fashion, with Duszynski posting the eventual game-winning tally 5:01 after Inman's goal, with just 42 seconds left in the second period.

After Pichette made it 4-2 1:44 into the third, Saint Michael's killed off 3:15 of penalty time, including a two-minute 5-on-3 disadvantage, thanks to four Donzanti saves and a pair of additional shots hitting the post. Norwich padded its lead with goals by Duszynski and Piacentini 2:32 apart in the closing 5:33 of regulation.

The Purple Knights begin a three-game homestand on Monday versus Northeast-10 Conference foe Stonehill College at 7 p.m.