GENEVA, N.Y.—Hobart College senior Ben Greiner scored the game-winning goal for the No. 12/13 Statesmen hockey team in the third period to secure a 3-2 win in an NEHC game tonight in The Cooler. Hobart improves to 6-2-2 overall and 5-1-2 in NEHC play.
The Thoroughbreds fall to 1-9-1 overall and 0-7-1 in the NEHC. Senior Tyler Wolf led Hobart with a goal and an assist. Senior Frank Oplinger earned the win in goal, stopping a total of 25 shots.
An eventful first period featured two goals for each team. Skidmore struck first at 5:58 in. An initial attempt by Quincy Gregg was saved but the rebound bounced to Tim Allen, who slid a slow shot across the line. Junior Jonas Toupal responded for Hobart just under three minutes later. After a shot by sophomore Lawson MacDougall was blocked, the puck came to Toupal at the left post. His initial shot hit the post and then he lifted the rebound, scoring his eighth of the season top shelf. With 5:12 to go in the first, Wolf made it 2-1 Statesmen. Senior Jordan Haskell had the puck on the left side boards at center ice. He got it to first-year Travis Schneider at the blue line who settled it and left it for Wolf. Wolf sent a shot on goal from the top of the circle that found the back of the net. With 3:52 left in the opening period, Allen struck again to tie things up for the Thoroughbreds, this time on a power play. He won the faceoff and got the puck to Brandon Borges at the blue line. Borges dumped the puck back in to Allen who settled it and skated in at goal before sending a shot across the line.
The second period proved scoreless. Just 2:38 into the third, Greiner capitalized on a power play to clinch the victory for Hobart. Wolf sent a pass to junior Matt Pizzo at the blue line. Pizzo’s blast was tipped in by Greiner from right in front for his third goal this year. In the final minute, Skidmore pulled its goalie for the extra skater, but the Hobart defense held off the Thoroughbreds for what was left of regulation.
The Statesmen finished with a 43-27 advantage in shots. Hobart went 1-for-4 on the power play, while Skidmore finished 1-for-3. Brandon Kasel made 40 saves in goal for the Thoroughbreds.
The Statesmen are back in action on Dec. 8 and 9, when they travel to play non-league games at Trinity. Friday’s game will be played at 7:30 p.m., and Saturday’s game will be at 4 p.m.
