The No. 9 Hobart College hockey team scored in the final second to edge No. 3/5 Utica College in an ECAC West game played tonight in front of a sold out crowd in the Utica Memorial Auditorium. The Statesmen had a flurry of action in front of the goal in the final seconds, and junior Robert Sovik (Prague, Czech Republic) came up with the game-winning goal.
Hobart improves to 2-0-2 both overall and in conference play. The Pioneers suffered their first loss and fall to 3-1-0 overall and 2-1-0 in the ECAC West.
Sovik led the Statesmen with two goals. Senior Tommy Fiorentino (New Hartford, N.Y.) chipped in two assists. Sophomore Mac Olson (Grosse Pointe, Mich.) registered a goal and an assist. Sophomore Lino Chimienti (Montreal, Quebec) played all 60 minutes in goal and finished with a career-high 32 saves.
The Pioneers got on the scoreboard first 5:18 into the opening period. Trever Hertz sent a shot into the top left corner of the goal. Easton Powers was credited with the assist.
At 7:37 in the second, Olson buried a backhanded shot to knot the game at 1-1. Junior Peter Ryan (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.) and first-year Bobby Sokol (Belle Vernon, Pa.) earned the assists. It was Olson’s second goal this season. Justin Hogan answered with a power-play tally for Utica off assists from Mike Baird and Mike Sloikowski to give the Pioneers a 2-1 edge 15:19 into the second. With 4:41 left in the middle period, Sovik found the back of the net after quick passes in front of the goal from junior Tommaso Traversa (Torino, Italy) and Fiorentino. Sovik’s second goal this year tied the game at 2-2.
The Hobart defense came up big in the third period, killing off two penalties which overlapped for 18 seconds in the first few minutes. It wasn’t until the final seconds of regulation, when the Statesmen battled in a scrum in front of the net, and came up with the game winner. Sovik sent home the goal and Olson and Fiorentino earned the assists.
The Pioneers held a 34-28 advantage in shots. The Statesmen were 0-for-3 on the power play, and Utica finished 1-for-4. Nick Therrien played all 60 minutes in goal for the Pioneers and made 25 saves.
