The Hobart College ice hockey team scored two third period goals to defeat host Utica College 4-2 in an ECAC West game played tonight at the Memorial Auditorium. Four different Statesmen scored in the victory.
 
With the win, Hobart improves to 16-6-0 overall and 9-3-0 in the ECAC West. The Statesmen have topped Utica in all three regular season meetings this year. Hobart has won five straight games and has come out on top in eight of its last nine contests. The Statesmen currently sit in first place in the ECAC West, one point ahead of second place Nazareth.
 
Dalton Carter put the Pioneers on the scoreboard first at 7:04 into the first. His goal came off assists from Kevin Kiristis and Anthony McVeigh.
 
The Statesmen had the momentum at the start of the second period. Junior Brad Robbins tied things up at 1-1 with a power-play goal at 2:35. He was able to send home the rebound off initial shots by senior Tommaso Traversa and sophomore Carl Belizario. It was Robbins' seventh goal of the season and third against the Pioneers this weekend. Sophomore Bobby Sokol put Hobart ahead 2-1 at 9:35. His fourth goal of the year came off assists from classmate Nick Bingaman and senior Peter Ryan. With 6:54 left in the second, Kollin Schultz tied the game up at 2-2 for Utica. Nick Miglio and Luc Boby assisted on the game-tying goal.
 
However, Hobart came out strong in the final period. At 1:44, senior Sean Rudy scored what proved to be the game-winning goal. His sixth goal of the season was assisted by classmate Brad McBride. Sophomore Jon Neal, who scored the overtime game winner yesterday against the Pioneers, added an empty net goal with 36 seconds left in regulation to secure the win. It was his third goal of the year.

First-year goaltender Frank Oplinger played all 60 minutes between the pipes and made 28 saves. Dylan Wells played 58:56 in goal for Utica and stopped 31 shots.
 
Hobart finished with a 35-30 edge in total shots. The Statesmen went 1-for-6 on the power play, and killed all seven of the Pioneers' power-play attempts.
 
Hobart will be back in action next weekend when it hosts Manhattanville for two ECAC West games in The Cooler. The Statesmen and the Valiants will play at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 13, and then meet again at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 14.