GENEVA, N.Y.—The second-ranked Hobart College hockey team set a program record for wins in a season as it knocked off fifth-ranked Norwich 3-2 in a New England Hockey Conference contest at The Cooler this evening. With the victory, the Statesmen are 22-2-0 this season with a 15-2-0 mark in NEHC play and clinched their second consecutive NEHC regular season title.
First-year
Tanner Hartman led Hobart with a goal and an assist in the victory. First-year
Damon Beaver made 22 saves as he improved to 12-2-0 on the year. Joe Nagle (2a) and Alex Lewis (1g, 1a) led the way for the Cadets with two points each. Drennen Atherton made 31 saves in just under 59 minutes of work in goal for Norwich (17-5-2, 13-2-2).
KEY STATS
- Hobart finished the game with a 34-28 edge in shots on goal.
- Both teams had a power-play goal in the contest. The Statesmen were 1-for-3 with the man advantage and Norwich was 1-for-5 with the extra attacker.
SCORING SUMMARY
- Hobart opened the scoring at the 2:34 mark of the second period. Sophomore Luke Aquaro pounced on a rebound and flipped a shot past Atherton for his 13th goal of the year. Junior Jonah Alexander and sophomore Cooper Swift were credited with assists on the power-play goal.
- Ten minutes later, the Statesmen extended their lead to 2-0 on senior Brenden Howell's fourth goal of the season. He ripped a shot from inside the left faceoff circle into the back of the net. Hartman and first-year Tristan Fasig were awarded assists on the tally.
- Hartman added a goal of his own with 24 seconds left in the period. He broke up a play in his own zone, raced the length of the ice and slipped a shot past Atherton for his fifth goal of the year.
- Norwich broke up the shutout bid at the 16:52 mark of the second period when Lewis poked a bouncing puck past Beaver for his eighth goal of the season. Johnny Johnson and Joe Nagle had assists on the goal.
- The Cadets made it a one-goal game at the 18:33 mark of the third period. Jason Galotti fired a shot from the point past Beaver's outstretched leg. Nagle and Lewis picked up assists on the goal.
COACH'S CORNER
"Yes, I'm certainly happy with the scoreboard and happy for and proud of the guys for locking up first place," Head Coach
Mark Taylor said. "To be honest, the best part of the night was walking in the locker room and seeing it completely packed with former guys sitting next to current guys. Former players in their 70's, 60's, 50's, 40's and 30's mixed in with this current team is what it's all about. If you have a good group in the room you'll be great on the ice."
UP NEXT
Hobart will wrap up its regular season tomorrow, Feb. 11 when it hosts New England College. Faceoff is scheduled for 4 p.m.
