Box Score 
WATERVILLE, Maine - The Tufts hockey team was eliminated from the NESCAC Championship with a 5-1 loss in the quarterfinals at top-seed Colby College on Sunday afternoon.
Tufts had tied the game at 1-1 through one period, but the Mules scored twice in the second and twice in the third to end the Jumbos' season.
Colby opened the scoring 9:12 into the first period when a drop pass by Tufts in the Mules' end was intercepted by Brian Sanzone. That created a three-on-one for Colby, with Sanzone sending a pass across the Tufts zone to John McElaney, who sent it right back to Sanzone for a goal into the open right side of the net.
The Jumbos responded with great work behind the Colby net to win possession of the puck. Brendan Skarda then sent a pass out front to Aidan Lovett, who controlled it with his skate and scored at 13:45 for a 1-1 game. Tufts would finish the first with a 7-4 advantage in shots.
Colby netted the go-ahead goal on a power play just two minutes into the second period. After a face-off win in the Jumbo zone, Jack Sullivan took a shot from the right side that was saved by Tufts goalie Josh Sarlo. However, McElaney was right there to sweep in the rebound putting the Mules up 2-1.
An unlucky play for the Jumbos led to a 3-1 Mules lead. Colby's Drew Burke chased down the puck along the right boards and sent it around the back of the net to Michael Thomas. He passed the puck to the front of the net where Jacob Thousand's deflection went off a Tufts player's skate and into the net at 5:22 of the second period.
The Mules had picked up their play in the second, earning a 13-3 advantage in shots and going one for three on the power play while not committing a penalty themselves.
Colby goalie Andy Beran made 10 saves in the third period while McElaney and Carter Breitenfeldt added goals for the 5-1 final. McElaney finished with two goals and two assists in the game.
Face-offs finished dead even at 33 wins apiece with Tufts' Brennan Horn going 9 for 15. Shots were 28-20 in favor of Colby. The Jumbos could not capitalize on an early third-period power play, their only one of the game, while the Mules went 1 for 5 on the man-advantage.
Colby moves on to host the NESCAC semifinals and championship game next weekend (Mar. 5-6).
