GENEVA, N.Y.—Hobart College used a defensive effort and a trio of hat tricks to end a five-game losing streak, defeating Wagner College 12-3 in Northeast Conference men's lacrosse action this afternoon. Statesmen goalie
Kevin Holtby made nine saves and did not allow a goal in the second half while defenseman
Maxwell Horton recorded a game and career-high four caused turnovers and a career-high four ground balls.
The Seahawks came into the game sixth in the nation in scoring defense, but the Statesmen posted the second highest goal total against Wagner this year. Hobart also limited the visitors to their lowest offensive production of the season.
"We needed a great defensive day," Head Coach
Greg Raymond said. "We're giving up 13 goals a game. That's way too much for us and so we challenged them a lot this week to step and do the right things and they did."
The Statesmen (3-5, 1-3) got three hat tricks on the day.
Ryan Archer,
Derrek Madonna and
Anthony Dattellas each finished with three goals and an assist.
Tommy Mott added three points on a goal and two assists while
John Herlihy scored twice.
"All week we talked about our offensive principles, moving the ball, sharing the ball," Madonna said. "I think today was probably one of the best days we've had this season doing that. We had three guys with three goals today. That's what's going to happen when you move and share the ball. Everyone's going to benefit from it."
Hobart dominated the faceoff X, winning 12-of-17.
Adam Shea went 10-5 and corralled a game-high six ground balls.
Jake Shaifer won both of the day's final two faceoffs for the Statesmen.
The final score might have been much more lopsided if not for the efforts of Wagner goalie Danny Brady. He posted a career-high 23 saves, including the 300th of his career early in the first quarter.
Both offenses got off to a bit of a slow start. The Seahawks (3-6, 1-3) logged the day's first goal when Stephen Dwyer notched his 18th of the season about six minutes into the game.
It took another three minutes for Hobart to get on the board. Archer finished a feed from
Jack Grooms to tie the game with under six minutes left in the opening quarter. Just over a minute later, Archer set up Madonna's first goal to give the Statesmen a lead they wouldn't relinquish. Shea won the ensuing faceoff and Madonna cashed in again for a 3-1 lead.
Hobart continued to roll in the second quarter, scoring three times in the first five minutes to stretch its lead to 6-1. Dattellas sandwiched goals around Madonna's third of the game.
The Statesmen and Seahawks alternated goals, with each team scoring twice more before halftime, as Hobart went into the locker room with an 8-3 advantage. Dattellas competed his hat trick 2.1 seconds before the intermission.
Brady made 15 first half saves.
Archer completed his hat trick 31 seconds into the second half. Mott and Herlihy also scored in the third to give the Statesmen an 11-3 lead heading into the final 15 minutes. Herlihy capped off the day's scoring early in the fourth quarter.
Holtby was only called on to make four saves after halftime and he benefited from a pair of hit posts by the Seahawks in the fourth quarter.
Hobart will make its final road trip of the regular season, visiting Merrimack (5-4, 2-2) on Saturday, April 16.
