SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Two goals 43 seconds apart in the final eight minutes of regulation snapped a tie and lifted the Saint Michael's College men's ice hockey team to a 3-1 victory at Skidmore College in the Saratoga City Rink on Friday evening. The Purple Knights improved to 6-14 overall and 3-11 in the New England Hockey Conference (NEHC), pushing their record to 4-3 this semester, while the Thoroughbreds are 4-13-3 and 4-7-2.

First-year Sam D'Antuono (Hingham, Mass./Dexter School) scored twice for Saint Michael's, finishing off his fourth multi-point game, and his second in a row, while senior Kevin Altidor (Montreal, Quebec/Millbrook School) also tallied. First-year Chris Johnson (Duxbury, Mass./Pomfret School) turned aside 35 shots for the 10th 30-save outing of his rookie season, making 16 in the third period alone. The Purple Knights are 4-1-1 in the last six meeting, avenging a 5-4 overtime setback on Nov. 21. This was the first match-up decided by more than one goal since Feb. 11, 2012.

Junior Anthony Bird scored for Skidmore, which held a 36-21 advantage in shots, while classmate Jack McDonald made 18 stops.

D'Antuono got Saint Michael's on the board 3:55 into the game off a dish from first-year Nic Hermary (Coquitlam, British Columbia/Melfort Mustangs). The visitors killed off a penalty during the latter portion of the period, but just 1:16 after it ended, Bird found the equalizer, sending home a rebound at 14:39. Skidmore held an 11-6 edge in shots during a scoreless second stanza, being shut out on a pair of power plays, including one that ended after just 55 seconds due to a Thoroughbred penalty.

Despite doubling the Purple Knights in shots, 16-8, during the third, Skidmore yielded both of the goals in the period. Altidor netted the eventual winner at 12:31, as junior defender Shawn Morrow (East Greenbush, N.Y./Kent School) assisted. At the 13:14 mark, D'Antuono padded the lead off a touch from junior Connor Mitchell (New Milford, Conn./Kent School). With 5:40 remaining, McDonald was pulled for an extra attacker, and the Thoroughbreds found themselves with a 6-on-4 advantage when the Purple Knights were assessed a penalty at 17:31. Just 45 seconds later, Skidmore also took a penalty, and McDonald returned to his post before again vacating for a scoreless final 1:02.

The Purple Knights finish a three-game week tomorrow at Castleton University at 4 p.m.