Box Score The ninth-ranked Hobart College hockey team defeated Lebanon Valley 8-1 tonight in an ECAC West contest in The Cooler. The Statesmen extend their winning streak to four, their longest of the season, and move to 13-4-0 overall and 4-3-0 in the conference. The Dutchmen slip to 0-17-0 on the season and 0-8-0 in the ECAC West.

Junior forward Blake Bonham (Toronto, Ontario) (2 goals-2 assists) and senior forward Jason Merritt (Chapel Hill, N.C.) (1-3) led Hobart with four points each, while junior forward Nick DeCroo (Sarver, Pa.) (2-1) and sophomore forward Tom Capalbo (Mamaroneck, N.Y.) (0-3) each added three points. Junior forward Bobby Cahill (Farmington Hills, Mich.) added two goals, and junior forward Aleksey Koval (Kiev, Ukraine) totaled a goal and a helper.

The Statesmen started the scoring 12 minutes, 3 seconds into the game. Merritt tallied on a power play off assists from Bonham and senior defenseman Michael Steiner (Shaker Heights, Ohio) for the early 1-0 lead. The Dutchmen answered 55 seconds later, as Marcus Wilhite snuck one by Hobart senior goalie Keith Longo (Milford, Mass.) to even the game. Corey Conte and Anthony Longo recorded the assists for Lebanon Valley.

The Statesmen went on to score twice more in the first period, and took a 3-1 advantage into the first break. Merritt and Koval found Bonham for the eventual game-winner at 15:11, followed by Bonham and Merritt setting up Koval for a tally at 17:48.

DeCroo's first goal of the night was the lone score of the second period. It came in the 11th minute, off a pass from Capalbo.

Hobart chalked up four more goals in the third stanza. Cahill notched the first two of the period, followed by a shorthanded goal from DeCroo, and another from Bonham.

Longo finished with 26 saves, while Aaron Miller collected 46 stops for Lebanon Valley.

Hobart will be back in action tomorrow, Jan. 24, when they take on the Dutchmen again at 4 p.m. Saturday is also Veterans Recognition Day sponsored by First Niagara Bank. Fans unable to make it to the game can listen live on WEOS-FM (89.7/90.3) or follow along online with live stats.