BABSON PARK, Mass. - The Norwich University men's ice hockey team was knocked out of the New England Hockey Conference (NEHC) Tournament in the quarterfinal round with a heartbreaking 2-1 overtime loss to No. 8 Babson College on Saturday afternoon.

Norwich (12-6-5) lost in the quarterfinal round for the first time since 2009. The Cadets were also playing in their first road league quarterfinal game since 1998. 

Junior Callum Jones (Burlington, Ontario) scored a shorthanded goal for Norwich's lone tally of the game, but it wasn't enough as Babson scored late in the third period to tie it up and then won 12:47 into overtime to knock off its long-time conference rival.

Jones collected his own rebound off a blocked shot and poked the puck past Babson's Brad Arvanitis at the 3:53 mark of the third period. Freshman Clark Kerner (Kansas City, Kan.) picked up the assist for his 27th point in one of the best rookie campaigns in recent Norwich history.

Babson's Cam Schmitt scored on the power play at the 14:13 mark of the third period to tie things up off assists from Matt Wiesner and James Perullo.

Andrew Holland scored the game-winning goal just past the midway point of first overtime to lift the Beavers to the victory. Norwich defeated Babson in the 2019 semifinals, but Babson beat Norwich in the 2016 semifinals at the Babson Skating Center in other recent playoff meetings between the two rivals.

Norwich's Drennen Atherton (Winter Haven, Fla.) made 38 saves for the Cadets in goal to finish the season 7-3-5.

Norwich played in its 10th overtime game of the season, the most in program history.