Box Score 

NORTHFIELD, Vt. - Sophomore D Shawn Baker scored the game-winning goal midway through the third period as the No. 2-ranked Norwich University men's ice hockey team defeated Skidmore College, 5-3, in an ECAC East game Saturday afternoon at Kreitzberg Arena.

The game entered the third period tied at 3-3, but Baker scored his fourth marker of the season on a blast from the left point at the 8:05 mark to give the Cadets the lead for good. Senior F Craig Serino, who passed the puck up to Baker, picked up an assist on the play.

Freshman F Steven Schroeder added an insurance tally less than four minutes later when he scored off a pass from freshman F Tory Allen at the 11:43 mark. Freshman F Scott Schroeder also picked up an assist on the goal, which was Steven Schroeder's sixth of the year.

Norwich (18-1-4, 14-1-2 ECAC East) opened the scoring at the 14:18 mark of the first period when freshman F Kyle Thomas snapped a wrist shot past Skidmore goaltender Andrew Ross for his team-leading 15th goal of the season. Junior F Chad Anderson and freshman F Blake Forkey were credited with assists on the marker, which gave the Cadets a 1-0 advantage.

Skidmore (8-13-2, 7-8-2 ECAC East) tied the game late in the first period when Nick Dupuis sent a long up-ice pass to Matt Czerkowicz, who was waiting behind the NU defense at the blue line. Czerkowicz then skated in all alone and beat Norwich senior G Ryan Klingensmith on a breakaway with just 10.9 seconds to play in the period.

Norwich outshot Skidmore 10-4 in the first period, but the Cadets skated into the first intermission tied with the Thoroughbreds.

The Cadets reclaimed the lead at 4:24 of the second period when freshman F Mark Collins potted his second goal of the season. Serino and Baker picked up assists on the tally, which came on a rebound. Baker's original shot from the blue line was saved by Ross, but the rebound caromed to Serino, who tipped a pass to Collins for the goal.

Skidmore rallied with two unanswered goals to move in front 3-2 midway through the second period. Tyler Doremus tallied the equalizer at the 6:30 mark off passes from Hunter Thayer and Brendan Cottam, and Alex Essaris put the Thoroughbreds in front at the 10:32 mark off a feed from Julian Malakorn.

Norwich was able to tie the game at 3-3 just two minutes later when freshman F Pier-Oliver Cotnoir scored his ninth goal of the year off an assist from freshman F Matt McCann. Cotnoir's original shot went wide, but the rebound ricocheted of the end boards right to his stick. He then snuck the rebound past Ross at the 12:48 mark.

Norwich held a 15-8 edge in shots in the second period, which ended with the score tie.

NU outshot Skidmore 37-20 in the game. Klingensmith finished with 17 saves in the victory for the Cadets. Ross made 29 stops for the Thoroughbreds.

There were only five penalties whistled in the game, and neither team was able to score on the power play. Norwich went 0-for-3 on the man advantage, while Skidmore went 0-for-2 with the extra attacker.

Norwich will close out its 2009-10 regular season next weekend (Feb. 19-20), when the Cadets travel south to battle NESCAC rivals Tufts and Connecticut College. Live radio broadcasts of both contests will be available on WDEV (AM 550/FM 96.1) and online (www.cadetsradio.com).