SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. -- The Second-ranked Norwich University men's ice hockey team remained unbeaten with a 4-0 win over Skidmore College in ECAC East action, Friday night at the Saratoga Springs City Rink.
 
The Thoroughbreds are 2-7-1 overall and 1-6 in the East, while the Cadets rise to 8-0-1 and 6-0 in league play.
 
Norwich scored goals 14 seconds apart in the first period to grab a quick 2-0 lead. Junior Dean Niezgoda (Brewster, Mass.) notched his third of the season from William Pelletier (St. Jean Chrysostome, Quebec) at 10:24. Pelletier made it 2-0 when he converted a turnover for an unassisted goal at 10:38.  Skidmore had a chance to get on the board with two minutes of 5-on-3, but the Cadet defense held and kept the 2-0 lead at the first break.
 
Freshman Kevin Salvucci (Plymouth, Mass.) made it 3-0 with a power-play goal just 43 seconds into the second. Pelletier and Cody Smith (Hudson, Mass.) assisted.  Sophomore Tyler Piacentini (South Weymouth, Mass.) tallied his sixth goal of the season from Smith and Brian Rowland (Waltham, Mass.) at 11:20.
 
Skidmore had its best chances in the third period, but Cadet goalie Braeden Ostepchuk (Lethbridge, Alberta) turned seven shots away for his second shutout of the season.
 
Norwich outshot Skidmore 32-22. Jack McDonald had 28 saves for the Thoroughbreds, while Ostepchuk finished with 22.
 
Skidmore will host St. Michael's on Saturday at 4 p.m., while the Cadets travel to Castleton State for a 4 p.m. start.

(Release courtesy Skidmore Sports Information)