GENEVA, N.Y.—Hobart College first-year goalie Damon Beaver made 26 saves as the second-ranked Hobart College hockey team defeated Skidmore 1-0 in a New England Hockey Conference semifinal contest at The Cooler this evening. With the victory, the Statesmen are now 25-2-0 overall this season.
 
Hobart, which advanced to the NEHC Championship game for the fifth time in the last six seasons, will take on Babson College next Saturday, March 4. Faceoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. The Beavers beat Norwich 4-0 in tonight's other semifinal. This will be the first time that the Statesmen will host the NEHC Championship game. 
 
KEY FACTS

• Hobart finished the game with a 29-26 advantage in shots on goal.
• Both teams were 0-for-3 on the power play.
• It was Hobart's third shutout against Skidmore this season.

 
MATCH MOMENTS

• Skidmore had the better of the chances in the first period, including a flurry in the first three minutes of the game. Beaver stopped point-blank chances from Joe Biddie, Mason Beecher and Jaden York all in quick succession.
• Sophomore Luke Aquaro had a golden scoring chance robbed by Tate Brandon.
• Hobart opened the scoring at the 3:19 mark of the second period. Graduate student Zach Tyson stuffed a rebound past Brandon for his 10th goal of the season. First-year Tanner Daniels and junior Artem Buzoverya were awarded assists on the tally.
• Beecher nearly tied the game late in the middle stanza, but his shot from the high slot hit the right post.
• Hobart controlled the final 20 minutes of regulation, finishing with a 12-7 edge in shots on goal.
• With two minutes remaining in the period, Skidmore pulled its goalie in favor of the extra skater. The Statesmen took aim at the empty net, but could not get another shot across the goal line.
• Daniels hit the left pipe from center ice. Daniels then had a shot that just missed the goalpost.
• Ignat Belov had the best chance to ice the game with just over a minute remaining, but his shot from close range went over the crossbar.