BINGHAMTON, N.Y.—Hobart College senior attackman Alex Love scored four goals to become the top Division I scorer in Statesmen history against No. 10 Cornell University this evening. Played indoors at the Greater Binghamton Sports Complex, the Big Red came out on top by a count of 16-8.
 
Love tied the record formerly held by Daryl Veltman '08 with the game's opening goal. Just 40 seconds into the game, he ran past his defender on the right side goal-line extended and deposited a point-blank shot for his 109th tally. Cornell equalized less than a minute later on an unassisted strike by senior Connor Buczek. At the 12:22 mark, senior Taylor Vanderbeek scored off an assist from senior Zach Reed to put the Statesmen back in front. Senior Matt Donovan scored the first of his game-high five goals to knot the game at 9:04 mark, but less than a minute later, junior Cooper Stefaniak (1g,1a) set up Brendan Saylor for a 3-2 Hobart lead with 8:28 remaining in the opening quarter. Buczek, who notched three goals and two assists on the day, made it 3-3 at the 7:01 mark.
 
After a lightning quick start, the two teams played the final seven minutes of the quarter without scoring another goal.
 
Junior John Edmonds started his hat trick 40 seconds into the second quarter. About a minute later, Cornell drew the first flag of the game for a push with possession, but the Statesmen maintained possession. With the delayed penalty, Love got the ball and darted to the middle of the field, unleashing a 15-yard, low-to-high screamer to pass Veltman and tie the game at 4.
 
The final outcome turned on faceoffs and possession, especially in the final 10 minutes of the first half when the Big Red took control of the game with a 7-1 run. Sophomore Domenic Massimilian won 21 of the 27 faceoffs he took and scooped up a game-high 11 ground balls. In the second quarter alone, he went 11-1 at the X. Donovan and senior John Hogan (2g,2a) each scored twice during Cornell's run for an 11-5 halftime lead.
 
Love traded goals with Cornell in the third quarter to raise his career total to 112 and send the teams into the fourth quarter with the Big Red in front 13-7.
 
In the final frame, Edmonds and Donovan scored before junior Matt Opsahl (1g,1a) scored with 2:21 remaining for Hobart's final goal. Cornell added an extra-man goal with 83 seconds left to complete the day's scoring.
 
Cornell (1-1) won the battle for ground balls 38-17. In addition to Massimilian's efforts, senior Chris Cook added seven mostly on wing play off faceoffs. Stefaniak led Hobart with four ground balls.
 
The Big Red had a 48-27 advantage in shots and scored on 2-of-3 extra-man opportunities. The Statesmen (1-1) went 0-for-3 on the extra-man.
 
Both teams are scheduled to play Binghamton in their next contest. Cornell will return to Ithaca to host the Bearcats on Tuesday, Feb. 24 at 5 p.m. The Statesmen will return to Binghamton on Saturday, Feb. 28, for a 1 p.m. faceoff.