GENEVA, N.Y.—Hobart College junior forward Ricky Klotz (Homer/Cortland, N.Y.) took over the team lead in goals with a hat trick in non-conference action this afternoon, leading the Statesmen past the Alfred University soccer team 5-2 at Cozzens Field. Klotz now has a team and conference best 12 goals on the year.

The Saxons (7-5-2) opened the afternoon’s scoring in the sixth minute when junior midfielder Ethan Weikleenget (Amherst/Amherst, N.Y.) finished a feed from first-year forward Brian Piccardo (Fox Chapel/Aspinwall, Pa.).

Junior midfielder Dan Abroms (Pomfret School/New Canaan, Conn.) evened the match off a pass from first-year back Farid Hafsia (Huddinge Gymnasium/Stockholm, Sweden) in the 15th minute. Klotz pushed the Statesmen (10-5-0) in front for good 10 minutes before the intermission, taking a helper from junior midfielder Juan Vargas (Del Valle/El Paso, Texas).

Klotz scored what proved to be the game-winner, assisted by first-year midfielder Brett Klebanoff (Duxbury/Duxbury, Mass.), in the 48th minute.

The Saxons crept to within one on senior forward Keith Phelan’s (Baldwin/Baldwin, N.Y.) tally in the 53rd minute, but Klotz and junior back Alex Coates (Avon Old Farms/Belvedere, Calif.) added insurance goals in the final 20 minutes to ensure the victory.

In goal, Hobart sophomore Chris Maravalli (Mt. St. Joseph Academy/Rutland, Vt.) earned his second win of the season with three saves, while first-years Brian Middleton (C.W. Baker/Baldwinsville, N.Y.) and Jim Roberts (Westhill/Syracuse, N.Y.) and sophomore William Brown (Hazen Union/Woodbury, Vt.) combined for nine stops for Alfred.

The Statesmen are back in action on Oct. 24, when they travel to UCAA rival Union for a 4 p.m., match.

—HWS SPORTS—