GENEVA, N.Y.-Hobart College first-year PA Martineau scored twice in the third period to lift the 15th-ranked Statesmen past Potsdam 5-3 in a non-conference contest at The Cooler this afternoon. With its fifth consecutive win, Hobart is now 11-4-0 overall on the season.
 
Three other players scored in the victory for the Statesmen. First-year Joe Halstrom made 29 saves as he earned his second win of the season. Brett Horn led the way for the Bears (6-9-0), recording a pair of assists. Nate Skidmore made 50 saves in the losing effort.
 
Hobart jumped out to a 3-0 lead at the end of the first period. First-year Zach Tyson opened the scoring at the 6:18 mark of the first period. His third goal of the season was assisted by sophomore Travis Schneider and first-year Aaron Maguyon. The Statesmen doubled their lead at 15:02 of the first period when senior Tanner Shaw scored his fourth goal of the season. Senior Jonas Toupal and junior Lawson MacDougall were credited with assists on the goal. MacDougall forced a turnover in the right faceoff circle and dropped a pass to Toupal.  Toupal fed a cross ice pass to Shaw, who was standing on the left post. Shaw one-timed the pass past Skidmore. The goal was a power-play goal. Just under three minutes later, junior Julien Denicourt gave Hobart a 3-0 lead with his fourth goal of the season. Senior Matt Pizzo was credited with an assist on the power-play goal. Pizzo broke up a Potsdam clearing attempt at the offensive blue line and slid a pass to Denicourt at the opposite point. Dennicourt fired a shot through traffic and across the goal line.
 
The Bears made the game interesting thanks to three goals and 29 saves from Skidmore in the second period.  Potsdam started to gain momentum in the first half of the period, killing off three consecutive penalties. Vinny Guimond broke up the shutout bid with his sixth goal of the season at 11:27 of the second period. He forced a turnover below the goal line and threw the puck on goal from a tight angle. The puck bounced off Halstrom's back and into the net. Bryce Ferrell's power-play goal brought the Bears within one. He picked up a loose puck in the slot and flipped it across the goal line. Horn was credited with an assist on the goal. Potsdam tied the game two and a half minutes later when Tyler Young wristed a shot from the slot past Halstrom. Horn and Jon Venter were credited with assists on the goal.
 
Hobart owned a territorial advantage in the first half of the period but could not solve Skidmore. MacDougall had the Statesmen's best scoring opportunity of the period but had his one-time attempt turned aside by a spectacular diving stop by Skidmore.
 
Martineau's first goal of the game would prove to be the game-winning goal. With five minutes remaining in the period, he picked off an errant clearing pass, deked around the goalie, and backhanded a shot into the empty cage. It was a shorthanded tally. Martineau added an empty net goal with 47 seconds remaining in regulation to seal the victory. Senior Jack Macnee and first-year Chase Bell were credited with assists on the goal.
 
The Statesmen finished the game with a 55-32 edge in shots on goal. Both teams scored a power-play goal in the contest. The Bears were 1-for-5 with the man advantage while Hobart was 2-for-9 with the extra skater.
 
The Statesmen will return to NEHC play next weekend, Jan. 11-12, when they welcome Norwich and Castleton to The Cooler. Hobart will take on the Cadets on Friday, Jan. 11, at 7 p.m. and the Spartans on Saturday, Jan. 12, at 4 p.m.