Box Score UTICA, N.Y.—The second-ranked Hobart College hockey team fell to ECAC West opponent Utica tonight, 3-2. The Statesmen dropped to 8-2-0 overall and 2-2-0 in league play, while the Pioneers improved to 6-4-0 on the season and 3-2-0 in the conference.

For the second night in a row, senior Shawn Houde (Manchester, N.H.) was the first to tally for Hobart. He scored on a power play 12 minutes, 12 seconds into the game, giving the visitors an early 1-0 lead. He was set up by junior Jason Merritt (Chapel Hill, N.C.) and sophomore Nick DeCroo (Sarver, Pa.).

Just over two minutes later, senior Ted Brzek (Duxbury, Mass.) lit the lamp to put the Statesmen up by two. Junior Ryan Adler (Piscataway, N.J.) and Blake Bonham (Toronto, Ontario) recorded the assists.

The Pioneers answered with 26 seconds left in the first period, thanks to a power-play goal from Vinny Rinaldi, assisted by Josh Merson. Hobart took a 2-1 lead into the first break.

Utica came out firing in the second period, out shooting Hobart 28-11. Nathan Brummitt tied the game at 2-all, 2:57 into the period, and the Pioneers took the lead for good a few minutes later when Aaron Jeffery tallied at 6:04.

Hobart senior goalie Dimitri Papaevagelou (Windham, N.H.) recorded 21 saves and the loss, while junior Keith Longo (Hopedale, Mass.) collected 22 saves in relief. Anthony Luckow picked up 29 saves for Utica.

Both teams went 1-for-5 on the power play.

The Statesmen will host Potsdam on Dec. 8 for a non-league game at 4 p.m.