MIDDLEBURY — The Middlebury College men’s hockey team dropped three close games in recent action, two to highly ranked teams, to drop to 7-6, 3-3 in NESCAC play. The Panthers will look to bounce back when they host Plattsburgh State on Friday at 7 p.m.
This past Friday the Panthers came up short in their bid to upset No. 1 Trinity for a second time this season, as the 11-1 Bantams edged them, 4-3. 
Middlebury opened the scoring in the second period, when Alex Heinritz netted the rebound of a Bret Pastor shot. The Bantams took the lead on two James Callahan goals, and then made it 3-1 late in the period on a Barclay Gammill power-play strike.
The Panthers made it 3-2 1:39 into third period, when Emack Bentley fired a shot into the upper right corner. The Bantams answered 1:27 later on an Adam Anderson rush.
The Panthers were awarded a penalty shot seconds later, but Bantam goalie Teddy Loughborough made a skate save to deny Matt Danner. Middlebury made it 4-3 at 8:02, when Michael Fahie tapped in a feed from Cole Joslin.
Middlebury had a late power play, but Trinity killed it — the Bantams thwarted five Panther power plays and converted two of their five. Jake Horoho made 35 saves for the Panthers, while Loughborough had 18 for Trinity.
On Saturday Wesleyan (7-4, 3-3 NESCAC) got past the Panthers, 3-1. Wesleyan took a two-goal lead in the middle period on goals from Emmet Powell and Tyler Levine. Middlebury answered later in the period on a power play, when Cole Joslin tipped in Pastor’s shot from the high slot.
Cardinal goalie Tim Sestak (19 saves) made key saves on Tyler Capello and Joslin in the third period, and the Cardinals’ Levine added an insurance goal with 2:25 remaining. 
On Tuesday No. 4 Norwich (13-2-1) picked up a 3-1 victory over Middlebury. Norwich took a 2-0 lead in the second period on goals by Taeron Lewis and Philip Elgstam, the second coming at 11:34.
Owen Powers netted the rebound of his own shot at 15:10 of the period, but the Panthers could not dent Cadet goalie Tom Aubrun (31 saves) again. Ryan Boucher added an insurance goal for Norwich late in the third. Horoho made 26 saves for Middlebury.