PINE VALLEY, N.Y.—The top-ranked Hobart College hockey team was edged by Elmira 7-5 in a New England Hockey Conference contest at The Murray Athletic Center this evening. With the loss, the Statesmen are now 17-2-0 overall with a 10-2-0 record in conference play.
 
Gagik Malakyan led the way for Hobart with three points on a goal and two assists. Tanner Daniels scored twice in the losing effort. First-year Mavrick Goyer started in goal and made three saves in 14 minutes before he was removed with an injury. Damon Beaver stopped 21 shots in the final 46 minutes. Chance Gorman scored four goals in the victory for the Soaring Eagles (9-9-1, 6-5-1). Kevin Curtin played all 60 minutes in goal and made 33 saves
 
KEY STATS:

• Hobart finished the game with a 38-31 advantage in shots on goal.
• The Statesmen were 1-for-5 on the power play and Elmira was 2-for-5 with the extra skater.

 
SCORING SUMMARY

• Hobart opened the scoring at the 4:12 mark of the first period. Daniels tucked a loose puck past Curtin for his fourth goal of the season. It was an unassisted goal.
• Kevin Lassman gave Hobart a 2-0 lead just past the midway point of the first period. He wristed a shot from the slot past Curtin for his first goal of the season.
• Elmira responded thirty seconds later. Jake Russo forced a turnover behind the net, stealing the puck from the Hobart goalie. He hit Gorman with a centering pass. Gorman fired the puck into the empty net.
• The Soaring Eagles tied the game just over three minutes into the second period. Gorman's second goal of the game was assisted by Brendan Schultz.
• Three minutes later, Larry Niland gave Elmira a 3-2 lead with his second goal of the season. Kerfalla Toure and Janis Vizbelis were credited with assists on the goal.
• The Statesmen battled back to tie the game 3-3 at the 8:07 mark of the middle stanza. Gagik Malakyan blasted a shot from the point past Curtin. His second goal of the season was assisted by Lassman.
• Gorman completed his hat trick 12 minutes into the second period. His fifth goal of the season was assisted by Nick Parody and Jake Russo.
• Bailey Krawczyk made it 5-3 four minutes into the third period. His power-play goal was assisted by Amedeo Mastrangelli and Russo.
• Four minutes later, Ryan Reifler scored an unassisted goal to give Elmira a three-goal lead.
• The Statesmen would not go quietly however, Wil Crane pocketed his fourth goal of the season to make it 6-4. Malakyan recorded an assist on the tally.
• Less than two minutes later, Tanner Daniels swept a bouncing puck across the goal line. His fifth goal of the year was unassisted.
• Hobart's comeback ultimately fell short as Gorman scored from the defensive end of the ice. His fourth goal of the season was assisted by Curtin.

 
UP NEXT
Hobart will be back in action on Friday, Jan. 27, when it welcomes UMass Boston to Geneva. Faceoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at The Cooler.