Box Score ASTON, Pa.—The sixth-ranked Hobart College hockey team defeated ECAC West opponent Neumann 5-4 last night at the Ice Works Arena, thanks to two third period shorthanded goals from sophomore Nick DeCroo (Sarver, Pa.) and first-year Patrick Moriarty (Lloyd Harbor, N.Y.). The Statesmen improved to 13-3-0 overall and 3-3-0 in league action, while the Knights fell to 13-5-0 and 4-4-0.

Moriarty led Hobart with two goals, while first-year Matthew Wallace (Skaneateles, N.Y.) joined in with a goal and two assists.

Hobart junior Jason Merritt (Chapel Hill, N.C.) helped his team jump to an early 1-0 lead 3 minutes, 26 seconds into the game. Junior Bryant Harris (Plainfield, N.H.) assisted the goal, his first of two on the night.

Neumann’s Ryan Heickert answered with the Knights’ first goal at 6:09, tying the game 1-1. The Knights held a 2-1 lead at the first break, after Kyle Casey sneaked one in the net with seven seconds remaining in the period.

The Knights’ Erik Stoyanvich scored for Neumann 8:14 into the second period, giving the hosts a 3-1 advantage. The two-goal lead was short-lived, as Moriarty lit the lamp with his first goal of the contest just over five minutes later, cutting the Statesmen’s deficit to 3-2. Wallace and junior Ryan Adler (Piscataway, N.J.) assisted on the power play goal.

In the third stanza Wallace provided a spark for the Statesmen, netting his team-leading 10th goal of the season to even the game at 3-3. Less than a minute later, Wallace and junior Andrew Brennan (Milford, Mass.) set up Moriarty for the shorthanded go-ahead goal, putting Hobart up 4-3.

The Statesmen held their ground and did not give up the lead. DeCroo recorded his third shorthanded goal of the year at 19:10. The tally also proved to be his team-leading fourth game-winner, after Stoyanvich knocked one in with 37 ticks left, making the final score 5-4.

Junior goalkeeper Keith Longo (Hopedale, Mass.) registered 38 saves in his ninth win of the winter. Neumann goalie Mike Collichio picked up 28 saves.

This game marks the end of a five-game road stretch for the Statesmen. Hobart will host ECAC West foe No. 7 Manhattanville on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 25-26.