Box Score Box Score

UTICA, N.Y.—Despite rallying to tie the game at 2-2 in the second period, the Hobart hockey team could not hang on as No. 11 Utica answered with three straight goals to come away with a 5-2 win in an ECAC West game played tonight at the Pioneers' Memorial Auditorium.

Utica is now 13-5-1 overall and 2-3-1 in the ECAC West. The Statesmen slipped to 10-8-0 overall and 1-4-0 in the conference. Four Pioneers recorded two points in the game. Jon Gaffney logged a goal and an assist, while Tim Coffman chipped in two assists. Evan Chlanda tallied two goals, and Rob Morton contributed a goal and an assist. Junior Frank Salituro produced a goal and an assist for the Statesmen.

Utica got on the scoreboard first 6:19 into the first period. Chlanda found the back of the net for his ninth goal of the season after passes from Coffman and Doug Marshall. Just 2:31 into the second period, George Lotito put Utica up 2-0. Justin Hogan set up the play.

Just over five minutes later, junior Brad Richard registered his eighth goal of the season to make it 2-1. Junior Bobby Hannah and Salituro earned the assists. Twenty-five seconds later, Utica was called for a penalty and Salituro was awarded a penalty shot. He sent the puck past Pioneer goalie Evan Smith to tie the game up at two. It was his eighth goal of the season.

At 12:23 in the second, Chlanda scored his second goal of the night to put Utica back on top. Coffman and Ridge Garbutt were credited with the assists. Gaffney stretched the Pioneer lead to two at 14:41 in the third period. The Statesmen pulled goalie, junior Marty Ausserhofer, in the final seconds of the game for the extra skater, but Hobart could not capitalize. Instead, Rob Morton scored on an empty net with 44 seconds remaining for the final.

Smith finished with 24 saves in goal for Utica. Ausserhofer made 18 stops in net for Hobart. The Statesmen outshot the Pioneers 26-23. Hobart finished 0-for-3 on the power-play, and killed both of Utica's power-play chances.

The Statesmen and the Pioneers will meet tomorrow, Jan. 28 at The Cooler for another ECAC West game beginning at 7 p.m.