WATERVILLE, Maine – The Connecticut College men's ice hockey team fell to Colby 6-3 on Friday night at the Jack Kelley Rink. The Mules scored three first period goals to propel them to the victory.

The nationally-ranked No. 13 Mules came into Friday's contest with a perfect 5-0-0 record and started fast in search of their sixth victory.

Just over one minute into the game, Colby got on the scoreboard. After forcing a turnover, the Mules went on the break and junior Jack Sullivan fired a quick wrister that was located perfectly over the blocker of goaltender Kellen Beauton (Colchester, Conn.) and into the back of the net.

Conn nearly tied it midway through the opening frame when Younghoon Choi (Seoul, South Korea) skated by a defender and put a wrist shot on goal. But the tight angle of the attempt allowed Mules goaltender Andy Beran to make a glove save to hold the Camels scoreless.

At the 13:10 mark, the Mules extended their lead when Jake Macdonald scored off a rebound on a power play. Six minutes later, Macdonald earned his second score of the game off an assist from teammate Carter Breitenfeldt. The goal put Colby up 3-0 heading into the second stanza.

For the majority of the middle frame, the Camels defense buckled down and both teams could not convert on their offensive opportunities. But after a tame opening 14 minutes of the period, the goals started flying in the final minutes of the second stanza.

First, Conn was able to cut into the deficit and end the scoreless drought when Choi earned an odd-man rush with teammate Brett Moccia (Lake Forest, Ill.). Choi skated up ice on the left side and dished it to Moccia past a Mules defender. The senior gave it right back to Choi who fired a wrister that beat Beran to put the Camels on the scoreboard.

However, just two minutes later, the Mules regained the three-goal lead. Playing shorthanded after a penalty, Nick Stapleton forced a turnover in the Conn defensive zone and passed it to teammate Tyler Crist who was left undefended. Crist scored easily to make it a 4-1 Colby advantage. 

Almost immediately following the goal, the Camels struck back with their second score of the game. With less than three minutes remaining in the period, and once again on the power play, first year Rocco Testa-Basi (Holland Patent, N.Y.) took a wrist shot through traffic that flew just under the crossbar and into the back of the net. 

Not to be outdone, Colby capped off a wild six minutes by widening its lead to 5-2 off the stick of John McElaney. In a span of 2:55, each team was able to score two goals a piece to make for a very entertaining end to the period. 

The Camels started the final frame on a high note when first year Michael DiMascolo (Cranston, R.I.) earned his first collegiate goal. DiMascolo intercepted the puck near the blue line heading into the Colby defensive zone. The first year evaded a pair of defenders and took a sharp-angled shot towards the goal that snuck just inside the far post and past Beran. 

Trailing 5-3, the visitors continued to push the pace, registering 10 shots on goal in the third period alone. Despite the opportunities, Beran held strong and kept Conn off the scoreboard for the remainder of the contest.

The Mules added their final goal on an empty net score by Macdonald, completing the hat trick. Colby (6-0-0 overall, 3-0 NESCAC) remained unbeaten with the 6-3 victory. 

Beauton and Cam Fernandez (Fairfield, Conn.) split time in goal for Conn, recording 20 and 10 saves respectively. Beran stopped 23 shots for the Mules. The Camels were 1-4 in power play chances, while Colby was 1-3 with the man advantage. The Mules won the faceoff battle, triumphing over 65% of the time.

Connecticut College (1-6-0 overall, 0-5 NESCAC) will return to action on Saturday at Bowdoin. Action begins at 3 p.m.