GENEVA, N.Y.—The No. 11/2 Hobart College hockey team used a five-goal second period to take down No. 12/14 UMass Boston 5-0 an NEHC game played today in The Cooler. Senior Frank Oplinger stopped all 19 shots he faced to earn his fifth career shutout.
 
The Statesmen improve to 13-5-5 overall and 10-3-3 in the NEHC. It was Hobart's third shutout this season. The Beacons fall to 14-9-0 and 9-7-0 in conference play. This was the third meeting between Hobart and UMass Boston this season. The Beacons won each of the previous two meetings by just one goal. Five different Statesmen scored in the win. Sophomore Andrew Longo notched a goal and an assist.
 
After a scoreless first period, the Statesmen erupted for five goals in the second. At 2:03 into the period, sophomore Zach Sternbach broke through for Hobart. Sophomore Lawson MacDougall carried the puck into the offensive zone and around behind the goal. He found Sternbach out in front, who notched his ninth goal of the year. Just 54 seconds later, senior Ben Greiner tipped in a blast by sophomore Colin Merrill from the blue line. It was Greiner's sixth goal this winter.
 
 At 7:37, junior Cam Shaheen finished off a rebound of a shot by Longo to make it 3-0. It was Shaheen's third goal this season. Just under five minutes later, it was Longo's turn to score. He collected a loose puck at center ice and brought it into the offensive zone with a defender at his back. He beat the defender and capitalized on a one-on-one with the goalie. It was Longo's fifth goal of his rookie season. Under a minute later, senior Andrew Silard extended the Statesmen lead with a power-play goal. Sophomore Will Harrison passed to senior Jordan Haskell. Haskell brought the puck across the net and Silard finished for his third goal this season.
 
The Beacons had a few scoring chances in the final period, but stellar saves by Oplinger preserved the shutout. About six minutes in with his team on the power play, Daniel Nachbaur quickly took the puck from right to left across the goal mouth, trying to beat Oplinger, but instead Oplinger slid across and denied the chance at the left post. With 11:35 left in the game, Nolan Redler nearly scored on the power-play, but Oplinger reached and made the diving save to his left. Oplinger improves to 5-2-3 this season. His five shutouts ranked third on the Hobart career shutouts list.
 
The Statesmen finished with a 45-19 advantage in shots. Hobart went 1-for-8 on the power-play and killed off all six of UMass Boston's power-play chances. Bailey MacBurnie started the game for the Beacons. He made 21 saves in the opening 32:32. Anthony D'Urso came in for the final 27:28 and finished with 19 saves.
 
The Statesmen have one weekend left in the regular season. Hobart will travel to take on Norwich on Friday, Feb. 9 at 7 p.m., and then play at Castleton on Saturday, Feb. 10 at 4 p.m.