SMITHFIELD, R.I.—Hobart College junior Matthew Pedicine won a top 10 duel against Bryant University senior Kenny Massa at the faceoff X, but the Bulldogs scored a 13-8 Northeast Conference victory this afternoon.
 
Massa came into the game third in the nation in faceoff percentage (.707) and second in ground balls per game (11.92), but Pedicine (6th in FO% at .664, 15th in GB/g at 6.67) won the day in both categories. The Statesman won 14-of-24 faceoffs and scooped up a game-high nine ground balls. It's the first time Massa has finished a game below .500 at the X since Feb. 24.
 
Hobart (4-9, 1-4) wasn't able to take advantage of its extra possessions, committing 14 turnovers to Bryant's eight. The Bulldogs had a 39-31 advantage in shots and a 24-20 edge in ground balls.
 
Junior Bryan Hancock scored a game-high three goals and sophomore Justin Scott added two goals and an assist for Hobart. Senior D. Bennett Moore recorded a game and career-high three caused turnovers. Sophomore goalie Sam Lucchesi finished the game with 10 saves.
 
Bryant (7-6, 5-1) got three-point efforts from three players. Jake Buonaiuto, Trevor Weingarten and Kevin Quigley each scored two goals and added an assist. Kevin Beimfohr made eight saves to earn the win in the cage.
 
The Bulldogs turned the game in their favor with a 6-1 run that spanned the second and third quarters. Bryant led 4-3 with less than two minutes remaining in the first half, but Tom Kennedy and Marc O'Rourke scored back-to-back in the final 1:06 to send the home team into halftime with a three-goal cushion.
 
Weingarten made it a three-goal run 52 seconds into the second half, but first-year Ty Yanko answered for the Statesmen less than a minute later. Buonaiuto started another three-goal surge that gave the Bulldogs a 10-4 lead with under three minutes left in the third quarter.
 
Hobart kept things interesting with a three-goal run of its own. Scott and Hancock scored 44 seconds apart to make it a 10-6 game heading to the fourth quarter. Senior Mason Burr capped the run with a goal 62 seconds into the final frame, cutting the Bryant lead to 10-7. Buonaiuto halted Hobart's momentum 54 seconds after Burr's tally and Matt Heldberg gave Bryant a five-goal lead 43 seconds after that.
 
Hancock completed his hat trick with 11 minutes left in the game, but it was the final goal of the game for the Statesmen. It was Hancock's first hat trick since scoring four times against Canisius in 2017.
 
Hobart remains in the hunt for the fourth and final spot in the NEC Tournament. The Statesmen must defeat Sacred Heart (6-7, 2-3) to move into a tie for fourth. Mount St. Mary's could also finish 2-4, forging a three-way tie. In that case, the final playoff spot could be determined by goals allowed in games against the tied teams or in conference games.