Box Score Box Score

GENEVA, N.Y.—The Hobart College hockey team jumped out to a 2-0 lead early in the second period, but No. 11 Utica rallied to score five straight goals to defeat the Statesmen 5-2 in an ECAC West game played tonight at The Cooler.

Hobart falls to 10-9-0 overall and 1-4-0 in conference play after dropping the weekend series to the Pioneers. Utica improves to 14-5-1 and 3-3-1 in the ECAC West.

Evan Chlanda and Adam Graff each logged a goal and an assist for Utica. Evan Smith played all 60 minutes in net for the Pioneers and stopped 30 shots. Junior Marty Ausserhofer finished with 26 saves in 59:22 in goal for Hobart.

The Statesmen struck first with 50 seconds remaining in the opening period. First-year Peter Ryan sent a pass into the zone from the blue line, and classmate Tommaso Traversa was there to tip the puck out of midair and into the back of the net to put Hobart up 1-0. It was Traversa's seventh goal of the season.

Hobart came out from the first intermission and made it 2-0 just 36 seconds in. The Statesmen's second goal was very similar to their first as junior Harry Radovich sent in a pass from the blue line that was knocked in by Brett Riley. It was Riley's first goal of the season.

Utica then began to take over the momentum of the game. Chlanda found the back of the net after a pass from Graff to cut the Pioneers' deficit to one at 8:55 in the second. After Hobart was called for two penalties, Rob Morton was able to capitalize on the 5-on-3 situation to tie the game at two at 12:01. Mike Baird earned the assist. The Statesmen outshot the Pioneers in the first period 10-7 and 14-13 in the second.

Utica took control the game in the third period. At 8:39, Tim Coffman connected after a pass from Evan Chlanda to give the Pioneers their first lead of the game. Steve Zappia made it 4-2 with his sixth goal of the year at 12:43. John Gaffney and Chris Santiago were credited with the assists. Graff capped the win for Utica with an empty net goal at 18:52. Utica outshot Hobart 11-8 in the final period.

The Statesmen held a slight 32-31 edge in shots overall.  Hobart went 0-for-5 on the power-play, and the Pioneers were 1-for-4.

The Statesmen will be back in action on next weekend. Hobart will travel to take on No. 13 Neumann on Friday, Feb. 3 and on Saturday, Feb. 4. Both games will begin at 7 p.m.