MEDFORD, Mass. - Despite nearly erasing a three-goal deficit, the Connecticut College men's hockey team dropped a NESCAC matchup to Tufts 3-2. 

The Camels fell behind 3-0 early, but they scored two unanswered goals to make it a tight contest with just under four minutes left to play. The Jumbos (4-11-1, 4-7-1 NESCAC) held tough to hang on for a crucial home conference win. 

Early on, Tufts scored the only goal of the first period. Jack Hughes fired a low shot on net from the point that teammate Mason Kohn was able to get a stick on and deflect through the legs of sophomore goaltender Cam Fernandez (Fairfield, Conn.) for the 1-0 Jumbos lead.

Tufts would score again early in the second period, this time off the stick of Angus Scott, for the 2-0 lead. Just over six minutes later, Brennan Horn would fire a shot from the top of the left face off circle and find the back of the net, extending the Jumbos lead to 3-0.

Kei Yasuda (Nagoya, Japan) would get one back for the away team with 10:11 remaining in the period. The short-handed Camels, killing off a power play, would intercept a Tufts pass. Kyle Shero (Westwood, Mass.) would lead Yasuda with a pass into opposing zone. Yasuda would finish, despite being tripped, to score the goal. Mike McHale (Needham, Mass), who took over for Fernandez, would make six saves to finish the period to hold the lead at 3-1. 

In the third period, Connecticut College would find the net once again. Paul Capozzi (Lake Forest, Ill) fired a harmless shot from the point that Eric Fournier (Lethbridge, Alberta) tipped in for the goal, tightening the score 3-2. The Camels would pull McHale in the final 90 seconds of play for the extra skater, to no avail, and the Jumbos would hold on to lead to win 3-2. 

Connecticut College (5-9-2, 4-7-1 NESCAC) will again face off against Tufts at 7 p.m. on Saturday at Dayton Arena.