HARTFORD, Conn.—The fourth-ranked Hobart College ice hockey team was edged by 15th-ranked Trinity, 4-3, in a non-conference contest at the Koeppel Community Sports Center this afternoon. The Statesmen wrap up the 2021 portion of their schedule with an 8-2-1 overall record.
 
Luke Aquaro led the way for Hobart, recording a goal and an assist. Liam Lascelle started in goal and made 23 saves in just over 59 minutes of action.
 
Three different players had multi-point games for the Bantams (4-4-0). Casey Rhodes and Jax Murray recorded a goal and an assist, and Cole Poliziani had a pair of helpers in the victory. Patrick Pugliese played all 60 minutes in goal for Trinity and made 26 saves.
 
Hobart opened the scoring at the 3:40 mark of the first period. Zach Tyson picked up a loose puck in the slot and wristed a shot past Pugliese for his fourth goal of the season. Aaron Maguyon was credited with an assist on the goal. Two minutes later, Trinity tied the game on Devan Tounge's second goal of the season. He collected a pass from Devan Tongue and one-timed the shot past Lascelle. Poliziani and Murray notched assists on the goal. The Bantams took a 2-1 lead into the first intermission thanks to Murray's seventh goal of the season. He snapped a shot from the left faceoff circle past Lascelle. Kyle Tomaso and Gerrard Maretta were awarded assists on the goal.
 
The Statesmen tied the game at the 2:54 mark of the second period when Aquaro fired a shot from the high slot past Pugliese for his eighth goal of the season. Jonah Alexander and Cooper Swift were awarded assists on the tally. The Statesmen continued to apply the pressure in the offensive zone, but Pugliese stood tall. He made a blocker save on a shot from Austin Mourar. Mourar collected his own rebound, but his follow-up shot was blocked by Ned Blanchard. 
 
Trinity regained a one-goal lead at the 14:14 mark of the second period when Casey Rhodes slipped a shot past Lascelle for his third goal of the season. Poliziani picked up his first assist of the game on the goal. Richard Boysen gave the Bantams a 4-2 lead at the 18:36 mark of the second period. He snapped a shot from the point into the back of the net. Devan Tongue was awarded an assist on the goal.
 
Mourar cut into Trinity's lead with his third goal of the season. He fired a shot from the point through traffic and into the upper left corner of the cage. Aquaro was awarded the assist on the goal. The Statesmen had chances to tie the game, but Pugliese stopped the final eight shots of the third period to preserve the one-goal victory.
 
Hobart finished the game with a 29-27 edge in shots on goal. Trinity was 1-for-4 on the power play, while the Statesmen came away empty on their three power plays.
 
Hobart will be back in action Jan. 1-2 when it heads to Middlebury, Vermont for the 2022 Friends of Panther Hockey Holiday Classic. The Statesmen are scheduled to take on Fitchburg State on New Year's Day at 4 p.m.