CORTLAND, N.Y. - Four different players scored goals as the Skidmore men's hockey team skated to a 4-1 victory at Cortland Friday night in the season-opening game for both teams.

Sophomore Scott Docherty (Oakville, ON/Georgetown Raiders) scored the goal for the Red Dragons. Senior Mike Crowley (Buffalo/Springfield Blues) and freshman Hayden Hart (Potsdam/Smith Falls) recorded assists. Junior goalie Nick Modica (Suffern/New Jersey Hitmen) turned aside 41 shots.

Senior Max Hegge (Anchorage, AK/Cushing Academy), junior John Litscher (Haymarket, VA/Trinity-Pawling), sophomore Matt Muzyka (Cheshire, CT/Connecticut Oilers) and freshman Reid Russell (Napanee, ON/Kingston Voyageurs) each netted a goal for the Thoroughbreds. Senior Adam Moodie (Wolfe Island, ON/Kingston Voyageurs) collected two assists, and four others chipped in with one assist apiece. Junior goalie Brandon Kasel (Ithaca/Syracuse Stars) made 27 saves.

Skidmore took a 1-0 lead 4:59 into the game on Russell's first career goal. Hegge made it a 2-0 game at 13:20 of the second period on a wrist shot from the right side. Docherty cut Cortland's deficit to 2-1 at 4:31 of the third with a one-time shot on the left side. Musyka put Skidmore ahead 3-1 with a deflection in front at 16:57. The Red Dragons pulled Modica for an extra skater with 1:20 left, but Litscher scored an empty-net goal with 25 seconds remaining to cap the scoring.
   
Skidmore 4, Cortland 1

Score by periods:
Skidmore      1-1-2    4
Cortland        0-0-1    1

Scoring Summary (Goals-Assists)
Skidmore: Reid Russell 1-0, Max Hegge 1-0, Matt Muzyka 1-0, John Litcher 1-0, Adam Moodie 0-2, Owen Campbell 0-1, Brandon Borges 0-1, Corey Morgan 0-1, Tyler Hall 0-1
Cortland: Scott Docherty 1-0, Hayden Hart 0-1, Mike Crowley 0-1

Saves: Brandon Kasel (Skidmore) 27 saves (1 GA in 59:55), Empty Net :05; Nick Modica (Cortland) 41 saves (3 GA in 58:28), Empty Net 1 GA in 1:32
Shots on Goal: Skidmore 45 (12-18-15), Cortland 28 (11-12-5)
Penalties: Cortland 3-6:00, Skidmore 3-6:00
Power Play: Cortland 0-3, Skidmore 0-3

Records after game: Cortland (Red Dragons) 0-1; Skidmore (Thoroughbreds) 1-0