MIDDLEBURY, Vt.-The 15th-ranked Hobart College hockey team rallied past No. 11 University of New England 4-2 in non-conference action at Kenyon Arena this afternoon. With the win, the Statesmen advance to the championship game of the 2018 Middlebury Holiday Classic where they will take on the host Panthers at 4 p.m.
 
Junior Julien Denicourt (2a) and sophomore Mark Benemerito (2a) each had a game-high two points in the victory for Hobart (8-4-0). Junior Alexander Connal made 32 saves in goal for the Statesmen. Dimitris Jones and Derek Mecrones scored for the Nor'easters (7-4-0). Ben Churchfield started in goal and made 43 saves for the University of New England.
 
Hobart had the game's first major scoring opportunity at 9:23 of the first period when first-year Zach Tyson fired a shot from the left faceoff circle off of the right goal post. Three minutes later, the Statesmen made it 1-0 when junior Will Harrison scored his third goal of the season. Denicourt was credited with an assist on the goal. Denicourt circled behind the goal and threw the puck to the front of the net. Harrison one-timed the centering pass past Churchfield.
 
The University of New England tied the game 48 seconds later when Derek Mecrones scored his third goal of the season. Liam Neuman was credited with an assist on the goal. Neuman's initial shot was turned aside by Connal. Mecrones jumped on the loose puck and banged it across the goal line.
 
The Nor'easters took a 2-1 lead just past the midway point of the second period. Jones one-timed a shot from the high-slot into the upper right corner of the cage. Brett Mecrones and Justin Dixson were credited with assists on the power-play goal.
 
The Statesmen came out of the second intermission on fire and scored three unanswered goals to secure the victory. Sophomore Andrew Longo started the rally just over three minutes into the third period. His first goal of the season tied the game at two. Benemerito and Denicourt were credited with assists on the power-play goal. Denicourt's initial shot from the point was turned aside but Longo was on the doorstop to clean up the rebound. Tyson's third goal of the season at the 12:07 mark of the third period turned out to be the game-winner. His shot from the slot hit a UNE stick, changed direction, and trickled past Churchfield. First-year PA Martineau added an insurance goal 48 seconds later. His first collegiate goal was assisted by Benemerito and first-year Chase Bell.
 
Hobart finished the game with a 47-34 edge in shots on goal. Both teams were 1-for-3 with the man advantage.