ESSEX — First-place Essex on Saturday dealt the Middlebury Union High School boys’ hockey team a 5-2 setback in a Division I matchup.
The Hornets moved to 5-0. The 7-4 Tigers are in fourth place and will host Champlain Valley on Wednesday at 7 p.m. and visit Spaulding on Saturday.
The Tigers pulled to within 3-2 at 2:11 of the third period on Kolby Farnsworth’s second goal of the game, but the Hornets’ Grady Cram answered with his second goal of the period 1:31 later. Hornet Ryan Clark added an insurance goal later in the period.
Tucker Stearns and Kamrin Bartlett picked up assists on Farnsworth’s goals, and Tiger goalie Zeke Hooper made 36 saves. Essex goalie Sam Foster stopped 13 shots.