CONCORD, Mass. - Charlie Brand (Lunenburg, Mass.), Luke Sardone (Winchester, Mass.) and Kota Shinozaki (Tokyo, Japan) all had a goal and an assist and host Middlesex secured a thrilling 3-1 win over ISL rival Saint Sebastian's on Friday night at Pratt Rink.

The win for the Zebras snaps a brief three-game slide and bumps their overall record to 8-5-2 in advance of a stretch where they will play three of their next four games at home.

After a scoreless first period, Sardone connected with a wide open Shinozaki near the blue line and he gave Middlesex a 1-0 lead 8:46 into the second frame.

The Zebras wasted little time tacking on another goal. This time it was Brand who delivered an excellent cross ice pass to a streaking Sardone who slipped a shot past the Arrows netminder less than two minutes later.

With their backs against the wall, Saint Sebastian's answered back with a score before the second period ended, making the game 2-1 headed into the third.

Middlesex put the game away midway through the period when a Leo Packard (Belmont, Mass.) shot was turned aside right to Shinozaki, who then fed Brand for the game sealing strike.

Matt Cloutier (Pointe Claire, Quebec) was strong again in between the pipes for the hosts, helping thwart a team that entered the game having won eight of its last nine games.

Middlesex returns to the ice on Saturday when they travel to Groton in an important Eberhart Division matchup at 2:30 PM.