MIDDLEBURY — The Middlebury College men’s hockey team pulled out a pair of ties vs. visiting NESCAC foes this past weekend. The Panthers (4-12-2, 2-8-2) hit the road this coming weekend for games at league foes Wesleyan and Trinity.
On this past Saturday Panther goalie Stephen Klein made 39 saves as Middlebury and Tufts (4-11-3, 3-7-2 NESCAC) skated to a 1-1 tie.
The Panthers had an edge in play in the opening period, but Klein had to deny back-to-back chances by Jumbos Brian and Tyler Scroggins midway through. Later, Tufts goalie Nik Nugnes (32 saves) made a pad stop on a Mitchell Allen breakaway set up by Trevor Turnbull.
Jumbo Ross Delabruere made it 1-0 at 9:31 of the second by cutting through the slot and backhanding home the rebound of Dan Kelly’s shot from the left side.
Vincent Gisonti equalized with 2:45 left in the period late in a five-minute major penalty on Tufts. Nugnes saved a Kamil Tkaczuk deflection of Brendan Dawson’s shot from the left point, but Vincent Gisonti swooped from the right circle to bury the rebound with 2:45.
At 7:30 of the third, Klein sprawled to save a shot by Clay Berger in front after a Panther turnover. Soon afterward David Belluche rang a wrister off the left post from the slot.
In overtime Nugnes stopped Eric Jeremiah early, and Klein made five saves, including on close-range bids by Brendan Ryan and Edward Hannon with just over a minute remaining.
On Friday night Tkaczuk scored a late equalizer as the Panthers and Connecticut (8-9-1, 7-4-1) tied, 2-2. 
The Panthers had the best chance in the first, but Frank Cosolito’s shot from the left point hit the crossbar.
Connecticut made it 1-0 5:44 into the second period on Mason Evans’ shot from the point during a five-on-three power play.
Cosolito made it 1-1 on a power play 56 seconds into the third period, converting a Turnbull pass from behind the net. Camel Ryan Pette’s rebound goal at 5:10 made it 2-1.
With Klein off for an extra skater, the Panthers made it 2-2 with 1:28 remaining in regulation: Tkaczuk chipped in the rebound of a Cosolito shot.
Klein made 18 saves, while Connor Rodericks made 24 saves for the Camels.