PINE VALLEY, N.Y.-The sixth-ranked Hobart College hockey team held on to defeat Elmira 6-4 at the Murray Athletic Center in the season opener for both teams this evening.
 
Four players had multi-point games for the Statesmen led by junior Zach Sternbach's three points (1g, 2a). Senior Jonas Toupal had two goals while fellow senior Tanner Shaw had two assists. Junior Lawson MacDougall added a goal and an assist. Junior Alexander Connal started and made 36 saves in goal for Hobart. Nick Ford led the way for the soaring Eagles with two goals. Jake Sabourin started in goal for Elmira and made 27 saves. After Hobart's fifth goal he was pulled in favor of Gennaro Azevino who made 19 saves.
 
Toupal opened the scoring with a power play goal 8:49 into the first period. He poked a loose puck across the goal line. Sternbach and senior Matt Pizzo were credited with assists on the goal.  Two and a half minutes later first-year Chase Bell notched his first collegiate goal banking home a rebound from the right faceoff circle. His power-play goal was assisted by sophomore TJ  Schultz. Toupal added his second goal of the game 86 seconds later. Sternbach notched his second assist on the goal.
 
Elmira got on the board 28 seconds into the second period when Matthew Cuce beat Connal with a low shot.
 
Sternbach made it 4-1 Hobart at the 7:15 mark of the second. MacDougall and sophomore Mike Faulkner were credited with the assists on the goal. Junior Julien Denicourt scored what would prove to be the game-winning goal at 13:32 of the second period. His power-play goal was assisted by Shaw and first-year Zach Tyson.
 
The Soaring Eagles made things interesting with back-to-back goals from Nick Ford to start the third period. Sixty-one seconds into the period he scored an unassisted shorthanded goal to make it 5-2. At the 8:30 mark he one-timed a shot past Connal to make it a two goal game.  Connor Powell and Harry Kramer were credited with assists on the power-play.
 
MacDougall ended any hope of a comeback 22 seconds later with his first goal of the season. Shaw and junior Will Harrison were credited with assists on the goal.
 
Patrick Schmelzinger rounded out the scoring with a goal at 17:04 of the third period. Aleksi Ojala and Jamie Dorsey were credited with assists on the goal.
 
Hobart finished the game with a 52-40 edge in shots on goal. The Statesmen were 3-for-5 on the power play and held the Soaring Eagles to one goal on nine attempts with the man advantage.
 
The teams will wrap up the home-and-home series tomorrow at The Cooler. Faceoff for Hobart's home opener is scheduled for 7 p.m.