Cape Cod, Mass. - UMass Boston and Salem State both pulled off upsets in the Quarterfinals of the ECAC Men's East Playoffs and advance to the Championship weekend of the playoffs. Norwich University and New England College will join the Beacons and Vikings in the Final Four, which is set to be held at Norwich University on March 8 and 9 at Kreitzberg Arena. All three games on the weekend will be broadcast live on www.FastHockey.com.

The top seeded Norwich Cadets handled eighth seeded Skidmore, exploding for five second period goals en route to an 8-0 victory. Chad Anderson scored his first career hat-trick in the win, with teammate Eric Lauriault netting two goals and adding an assist. The dual effort of David Thompson and Ryan Klingensmith combined for the shutout in goal, with Thompson stopping 18 shots and Klingensmith turning aside all three shots he faced. Skidmore net minder Ted Levine made 38 saves for the Thoroughbreds. Click here for a full game release. The Cadets will now take on seventh seeded UMass Boston on Saturday, March 8 at 3:00 p.m.

The Beacons stunned Babson College on Saturday night skating to a 4-1 win over the Beavers, who were the second seed in the playoffs. With the win the Beacons advance to their first ECAC East Semifinal since 2000. After a scoreless first period, UMass Boston converted on two power plays in the second period to take a two goal lead into the final stanza. Eric Tufman got the Beacons on the board sliding a rebound past Babson goalie Skylar Nipps. Less than two minutes later freshman Brett Calhoun netted the eventual game winner on a blistering shot from the point, that clanked off the post the into the net. With 1:37 gone in the third period Dennis Zak gave UMass Boston a three goal lead when he tallied on a wrist shot from the left side. With the goalie pulled Babson's Shane Farrell brought the Beaver's to within two, but that would prove to be as close as they would get as UMass Boston scored an empty net goal to clinch the victory. Click here for a full game recap. 

In the other upset on the night Salem State College went into the Rutland Vermont Regional Fieldhouse and beat Castleton State College 6-3 to end the Spartans ten game unbeaten streak. The Vikings fell behind 1-0 after the first frame on a goal by Stuart Stefan. In the second period Aaron Blades got Salem State on the board when he notched a shorthanded goal to tie the game at one. Castleton responded with a goal by Evan Romeo to take a 2-1 lead, their last lead of the contest. Aaron Blades struck again for his second of the game and sparked the Salem State offense that scored two more goals to round out the second period up 4-2. Jeff Tellier and Mike Genovese both scored with under two minutes remaining in the game, to cap off a Viking stretch of five unanswered goals, and give Salem State an insurmountable 6-2 lead. A late Spartan goal cut the lead in half at 6-3, but that would be as close as Castleton would get. Viking goalie Ryan Hatch stopped 31 Caslteton shots in the win, and Aaron Blades and Mike Genovese led the Viking offense with two goals and one assist apiece. Evan Romeo netted two goals and was the top scorer in the game for Castleton. Click here for a full game release. Salem State will take on New England College in the second semifinal at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 8.

In the match-up between fourth seeded New England College and fifth seeded Southern Maine, the Pilgrims came back from a 2-1 deficit, scoring four unanswered third period goals to pull off the 5-2 comeback win. The Pilgrims outshot the Huskies 50-32, including a 21-10 advantage in the third period. Johan Granath knotted the game at two at the 7:21 mark of the third, and then tallied the game winner on a shorthanded strike less than two minutes later to give the Pilgrims the 3-2 advantage. Mark Ehl scored his 22nd goal of the season with under five minutes remaining on assists from Mike Mullen and Trevor Turner to put the game out of reach. Josh Giordani got Southern Maine on the board early in the first and Jordan Skinner tallied the second Huskies' goal to give Southern Maine a 2-1 lead, before the Pilgrim comeback. Ron Baia turned aside 30 shots to earn the win in goal for the Pilgrims. Junior net minder Jamie Gilbert stopped 27 shots in net before leaving the game with an injury midway through the second period. Senior Ryan Sullivan made 18 saves for Southern Maine in relief. Click here for a full game release. 

Both semifinals and the Championship game will be broadcast live on www.FASTHockey.com

Quarterfinals

Saturday, March 1

No. 8 Skidmore College - 0
No. 1 Norwich College- 8

No. 7 UMass Boston - 4
No. 2 Babson College - 1

No. 6 Salem State College - 6
No. 3 Castleton State College - 3

No. 5 University of Southern Maine - 2
No. 4 New England College - 5

Semifinals at Norwich University

Saturday, March 8

No. 7 UMass Boston vs. No. 1 Norwich University, 3:00 p.m.
No. 6 Salem State College vs. No. 4 New England College, 6:00 p.m.

Championship at Norwich University

Sunday, March 9 at 3:00 p.m.

The Semifinals and Championship games will be web streamed on FASTHockey.com.