SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.- Two of the top defensive teams in the New England Hockey Conference (NEHC) faced off against each other Friday night in Saratoga with the Norwich Men's Ice Hockey team paying a visit to undefeated Skidmore.

The first period was a struggle, with neither side giving the other any space to operate and neither side able to establish possession in their offensive ends, ending scoreless and the Cadets holding a 7-5 shot advantage.

The game began to open up in the second period when the Thoroughbreds taking a penalty, negating their own powerplay and the teams skating four aside. The Cadets generated a few chances during the four-on-four and on their eventual man advantage with Skidmore's Tate Brandon keeping the game even. Halfway through the period, Skidmore would be assessed a five-minute major for hitting from behind. However, the golden opportunity did not last, as Norwich was assessed a minor negated a chunk of that powerplay time. As the period wound down, the Thoroughbreds would have a number of chances in the final minute, but Sami Molu (Toronto, On.) kept the game tied at the break.

The momentum Skidmore generated late in the second carried into the third as they out possessed the Cadets, but Molu kept the game level. Brandon matched Molu's effort, as when Norwich had a flurry of shots, he would shut the door sending this goaltender duel to overtime.

Two and a half minutes into the extra period, Paul Schmid (Linz, Austria) was hooked while on a breakaway leading to a penalty shot, which was denied by Brandon. A Thoroughbred flurry, with Molu denied, eventually led to Skidmore going back to the man advantage for the remainder of overtime. While a man up, the Thoroughbreds had a number of opportunities, but Hayden Heinrich (Richmond Hill, On.) blocked the two shots to preserve the scoreless tie, and Molu's first career shutout.

"I thought it was a hard-earned point on the road, we had some good efforts late led by our goalie," Head Coach Cam Ellsworth said.

The Cadets' road trip continues Saturday afternoon when they travel to Rutland to take on intrastate rival Vermont State Castleton at 4 PM.