BABSON PARK, Mass.—Hobart College first-year Ignat Belov scored a pair of goals as the top-ranked Statesmen skated to a 4-1 victory over Babson College in a New England Hockey Conference contest at the Babson Skating Center this afternoon. With the win, the Statesmen improve to 16-1-0 overall on the season with a 9-1-0 mark in conference play.
 
Belov was one of four Statesmen to finish the game with two points. His linemates Tristan Fasig and Tanner Hartman had two assists each. Sophomore Wil Crane also had a pair of assists. First-year Mavrick Goyer played all 60 minutes in goal, making 22 saves. Noah Hildebrand made 29 saves in just under 59 minutes of work in goal for Babson (11-5-2, 6-3-2).
 
KEY STATS

• Hobart finished the contest with a 31-23 advantage in shots on goal.
• Neither team converted on the power play. The Statesmen were 0-for-1 and Babson was 0-for-2 with the man advantage.

 
MATCH MOMENTS

• Belov opened the scoring at the 2:09 mark of the first period. He picked up a rebound in the left faceoff circle and flipped a shot past Hildebrand for his seventh goal of the season. Fasig and Hartman were awarded assists on the goal.
• The Beavers tied the game just over a minute later. Brendan Kennedy wristed a shot from the right faceoff circle past Goyer for his third goal of the year. Thomas Kramer was credited with an assist on the goal.
• Belov notched his second goal of the game at the 5:34 mark of the second period. He one-timed a shot from the left faceoff circle into the upper left corner of the cage. Hartman and Gagik Malakyan were awarded assists on the goal.
• Hobart put the game out of reach with a pair of empty-net goals late in the third period. Matthew Iasenza scored the first one from center ice. His shorthanded goal was his seventh goal of the season. Wil Crane was awarded an assist on the goal.
• With 10 seconds remaining in the contest, Austin Mourar found the back of the net with a shot from his own blue line. His second goal of the season was assisted by Fasig and Crane
• Babson had a golden chance to tie the game when the Statesmen were awarded a five-minute major late in the third period. The Beavers applied pressure in their offensive end of the rink during the man advantage, but Hobart's penalty kill came up with four blocked shots and a short-handed goal.

 
COACH'S CORNER
"I'm extremely proud of the group today and this weekend," Assistant Coach Tom Fiorentino '14 said. "Everyone stepped it up, especially the PK groups at the end to kill off the major penalty. Guys were willing to sacrifice, block shots and do the little things it takes to win close hockey games and it made the difference. Overall, it was a great team win and I'm looking forward to the week ahead."
 
UP NEXT
Hobart will be back in action next weekend, Jan. 20-21, when it takes on Elmira in a home-and-home series. The Statesmen will be at The Cooler on Friday and in Pine Valley, New York on Saturday. Faceoff for both games is set for 7 p.m.