Colby won against Middlebury for just the second time in 13 years, as the Mules took an early lead and held on for a 9-8 victory over seventh-ranked Middlebury on Alfond Field. The Mules improve to 5-3 overall and 2-2 in the NESCAC with four one-goal wins. Middlebury also is 2-2 in the conference and is 4-2 overall.
Thomas Gianakos made 15 saves, including five in the final period when Middlebury was unleashing a lot of pressure. James Brady led the defense with seven groundballs, while Craig Bunker won 15-21 face-offs and had 11 groundballs.
Bunker won his first face-off of the day and scored six seconds into the game to give the Mules a spark. Mark Squicciarino tallied just 1:04 later to put Colby up for good at 2-0. The Mules led 3-2 after one quarter and then first-year John Jennings took over and scored the only three goals of the third period for a 6-2 Mule lead at intermission.
The Mules appeared to take control when Squicciarino scored the second of his three goals on the day just 1:05 into the third period for a 7-2 margin. Middlebury would not go away, as they received goals from David Hild, Erich Pfeffer and Pete Smith to cut the margin to 7-5 with 5:49 to play in the third.
Colby scored on its lone man-up opportunity of the day when Ian Deveau tallied with just 26 seconds to play in the third period for an 8-5 lead. Deveau then gave Colby another early goal in a period when he connected again on a pretty cross from Squicciarino with 13:24 to play for a 9-5 lead. Deveau finished the day with two goals and two assists.
Neither team could manage a goal for the next nine minutes as Colby was on its way to the win. Middlebury battled back again as Bart Witmer scored with 3:53 to play. Peter Jennings won the face-off and picked up the assist when Jack Balaban scored just seven seconds later to cut the lead to two.
Middlebury made it three goals in a span of 59 seconds when Balaban scored again with 2:54 to play for a 9-8 Mule lead. The Panthers had a couple opportunities for the equalizer in the final minutes, but could not get another shot past Gianakos. Ryan Deane ended the game with nine saves for the Panthers.
BOX SCORE
