NEW LONDON, Conn. - The Connecticut College men's hockey team dropped a 5-3 decision to Middlebury on Tuesday night at Dayton Arena. Despite a tie game through two periods, the Panthers scored three times in the final frame to cement their victory.

The Camels entered the late-season NESCAC matchup on a five-game winless streak against a Panthers team at the bottom of the conference standings. Both squads were desperately seeking a win to improve their position for the upcoming NESCAC Tournament.

Connecticut College (5-12-3, 4-10-2 NESCAC) came out firing right out of the gates. Just 1:30 into the first period, Anthony Quatieri (Peabody Mass.) found freshman Will Winship (Andover, Mass.) on a perfect cross-ice pass in front of Middlebury's crease. Winship was able to bury home the one-timer to give the Camels a 1-0 lead.

The home team dominated possession and shot attempts during much of the period, peppering the net against goalie Jake Horoho. But the Panthers' offense got its first real opportunity when Nolan Moore fired a slap shot from near the blue line. Teammate Antoine Belisle was able to screen Conn goaltender Cam Fernandez (Fairfield, Conn.) and redirect the shot into the back of the net to tie the score at one with just under six minutes to go in the period.

Not to be outdone, the Camels' offense answered back. Following a penalty against Moore, Conn was able to convert the power play after Jake Vaughan (Colorado Springs, Colo.) put in a rebound off a shot from Steven Senese (Niagara Falls, N.Y.). At the end of the first period, the home team would lead 2-1, in part because of a relentless offensive attack that produced 16 shots on goal.

The second period was much more even offensively. The Panthers outshot the Camels 14-11 including the equalizing goal off the stick of Cole Joslin. At the 5:27 mark, Joslin was able to clean up a rebound from teammate Jack Clarner. The score would remain tied at two a piece for the rest of the period.

Entering the final frame even, Middlebury wasted no time earning their first lead of the game. Only, 17 seconds in, Bret Pastor found the back of the net off a feed from Tyler Capello to give the Panthers a 3-2 advantage. Just 1:42 later, the visitors would strike again when Middlebury defender Andrew Malatesta blocked a pass in the Camels' offensive zone. The puck slid all the way down to the other end of the ice. Teammate Matt Myers corralled the loose puck, creating a 2-on-1 Panthers advantage. Myers dished it to the streaking Malatesta who was able to get it past Fernandez for the two-goal lead. 

Middlebury (4-12-3, 3-11-2 NESCAC) would add one more following a wrist shot from Belisle that beat Fernandez on his glove-side. After the goal, Sean Dynan (Reading, Mass.) relieved Fernandez between the pipes for the Camels. 

Forward Paul Capozzi was able to tighten the game with a goal just under two minutes left in the contest, but the Panthers were able to hold off the Camels 5-3.

Horoho made 33 saves for Middlebury, while Fernandez turned away 21 shots for the home team.

Connecticut College will play at Bowdoin on Friday and at Colby the following day to wrap up the regular season.