ROCHESTER, N.Y.—The 21st-ranked Hobart soccer team scored four goals in the second half as it rallied past Rochester Institute of Technology 4-1 in a Liberty League contest at Judson Stadium this evening. With the win, the Statesmen improve to 7-1-0 on the season and 1-1-0 in conference play.
Junior
Brady Leitner led the way for Hobart, scoring a pair of goals. Fellow juniors
Will Slayton and
Danny Spataro added a goal and an assist in the victory. Junior
Jake Hans played all 90 minutes in goal and made three saves.
Gavin Culley had the goal for the Tigers (2-3-2, 0-1-1). Kristian Dobbek played all 90 minutes in goal for RIT and made one save.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Hobart finished the game with a 14-10 edge in shots.
- The Statesmen scored on four of their five shots on goal.
- RIT held a 4-1 advantage in corner kicks.
DISH MASTER
- With an assist in today's game, junior Griffin Coutts now has a Liberty League-leading nine helpers on the season. That moves him into a tie for seventh on Hobart's single-season list with Willi Steinrotter '89.
- Hobart's six assists in today's game are the most by the Statesmen in a game since recording six against Keuka on Sept. 1, 2023.
FIRST HALF
- Hobart had the game's first chance in the fourth minute when Spataro just missed the right goalpost.
- In the 14th minute, Slayton fired a shot just over the crossbar.
- The Tigers flipped momentum in their favor in the 23rd minute, when Idriss Diallo had a shot stopped by Hans.
- Two minutes later, Culley collected a pass in the 18-yard box and slotted a shot past Hans for his fifth goal of the year. It was assisted by Diallo and Robin Giesing.
- The Statesmen had one last chance at the end of the first half, but Weldon Arner's free kick at the buzzer just missed the left goalpost.
SECOND HALF
- Hobart made some key adjustments at the half and immediately applied pressure on the Tigers in the offensive end.
- In the 48th minute, the Statesmen forced a turnover and after a few tight passes, Leitner found some space and slipped a shot past Dobbek for his third goal of the year. Spataro and Slayton had assists on the goal.
- Just under two minutes later, Slayton gave Hobart the lead for good. He collected a pass from Coutts, chipped a shot over the goalie and scored his second goal of the year. Senior La Zai Outerbridge also had an assist on the goal.
- The Statesmen sealed the victory, scoring twice in 72 seconds. Spataro's first goal of the season in the 62nd minute gave Hobart a 3-1 lead. Senior Quinn Phillips and sophomore Gabe Smith had assists on the goal.
- Leitner notched his team leading fourth goal of the year in the 63rd minute. He picked up a loose ball in the six-yard box and poked a shot across the goal line.
COACH'S CORNER
"Tonight was an important three point win for us in the Liberty League," The Thomas B. Poole '61 and Family Head Coach of Hobart Soccer
Shawn Griffin Said. "I'm very happy with how the guys responded in the second half. We have another challenging game on Saturday with a very good Bard side coming to Geneva."
UP NEXT
The Statesmen will be back in action on Saturday, Sept. 26, when it begins a four-game homestand against Bard. The Liberty League contest is set to begin at 2 p.m. on Cozzens Field.
