SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. -- Senior Dan Rautenberg (Cape Elizabeth, Maine) scored a pair of goals as the University of Southern Maine Huskies opened the 2011-12 season by defeating the Skidmore College Thoroughbreds, 5-4, Friday night in an ECAC (Eastern College Athletic Conference) Men's East game at the Saratoga City Rink.  The game was the season opener for both teams.

            The Huskies never trailed in the game taking a 2-1 lead in the opening period on scores by freshman Brad McGovern (Haverhill, Mass.) and Rautenberg.  McGovern converted a pass from sophomore Troy Thibodeau (Danvers, Mass.) at the 1:37 mark, and Rautenberg found the back of the net for a power-play goal off an assist from junior David Nies (Brookline, Mass.) at 10:02.  Senior Alex Essaris (Dollard-Des-Ormaux, Quebec) split the USM goals for Skidmore with an unassisted power-play marker at 4:01.

            Sophomore Angelo Vrachnas (St. James, N.Y.) increased the Huskies lead to 3-1, assisted by senior Chris LaCount (South Easton, Mass.) and junior Kevin Smith (Auburn, Maine), midway through the second period.

            The Thoroughbreds came back to tie the game before the end of the middle stanza.  Sophomore Aaron Beck (Maribel, Wis.) pulled the hosts within one at 14:17, and junior Zach Menard (Burlington, Mass.) equalized at 15:30 with a power-play goal.

            Rautenberg gave the Huskies the lead for good 38 seconds into the third period with his second goal of the night.  Rookie forward Ryan Seward (Port Jefferson, N.Y.) scored what proved to be the game winner for the Huskies at 15:26.  Both goals were unassisted.

            Skidmore got back within one when freshman Erik Nilsson (Stockholm, Sweden) scored, set up by Essaris and senior Jack Walsh (North Reading, Mass.), at 16:48.  Skidmore pulled senior goalie Colin Bessey (Montclair, N.J.) with 1:16 to play for the extra attacker, but was unable to get a tying goal.

            Sophomore goalie Braely Torris (Eckville, Alberta) registered 28 saves in the Southern Maine cage.  Bessey stopped 22 shots before being lifted.

            Southern Maine looks to make it two in a row Saturday (4:00 p.m.) when it travels to Castleton (Vt.) State College.  Skidmore hosts the University of New England on Saturday (7:00 p.m.).

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