NORTHFIELD, Vt.—The top-ranked Hobart College hockey team was edged by 10th-ranked Norwich University 2-1 in a New England Hockey Conference contest at Kreitzberg Arena. The Statesmen's first loss of the season snapped a 14-game winning streak.  Hobart is now 14-1-0 on the season and 7-1-0 in conference play.
 
Damon Beaver started in goal and made 16 saves in 59 minutes of work for Hobart. Clark Kerner and Brady Gaudette had a goal and an assist each in the victory for the Cadets ( 11-3-1, 7-1-1). Drennen Atherton stopped 36 of the 37 shots he faced.  
 
KEY STATS:

• The Statesmen finished the game with a 37-18 edge in shots on goal.
• Hobart was 0-for-3 on the power play and Norwich was 1-for-2 with the extra attacker. It was the first power-play goal the Statesmen surrendered since Nov. 4 against Babson.

 
SCORING SUMMARY:

• Hobart opened the scoring at the 17:29 mark of the opening frame. Wil Crane slammed home a rebound for his third goal of the season. Tanner Daniels was credited with an assist on the goal.
• Kerner tied the game for Norwich at the 12:08 mark of the middle stanza. He collected a pass from Gaudette and slipped a shot past Beaver. His eighth goal of the season game seconds after the Cadets killed off a Hobart power play attempt.
• Kerner returned the favor with 48 seconds remaining in the period. Gaudette's chipped a shot from the right faceoff circle past Beaver. Paul Schmid also had an assist on the power-play goal.

 
CLOSE CALLS:

• Jonah Alexander nearly gave the Statesmen a 2-0 lead just past the midway point of the game, but his shot hit the goalpost.
• The Statesmen dominated the third period, posting a 17-3 advantage in shots on goal as they pushed for the equalizer. Atherton was up to the task as he preserved the victory.

 
COACH'S CORNER:
"It was a hard-fought game between two top-ranked teams," Head Coach Mark Taylor said. "It was low scoring at 2-1, which usually is a sign of good defense and minimal mistakes and that was the case. I don't ask the guys for wins, I ask them to give full effort with complete character. Considering we outshot them 37-18 in their rink on the second night of a road trip, I'd say they did. Yes, I feel for them, the goals they set you to want to help them achieve, who doesn't want a perfect season, but at this moment, I feel about them as a group the same way I did before the game. So frankly already on to the next game. "
 
UP NEXT:
Hobart will continue its four-game road trip next weekend. The Statesmen will take on Southern Maine Friday, Jan. 13, at 7 p.m. and Babson Saturday, at 4 p.m.