UTICA, NY- The Hobart College men’s hockey team picked up its fourth straight victory as it downed Utica College 5-1 in ECAC West Conference action Saturday night at the Utica Memorial Auditorium. It marked the first loss for the Pioneers in their 2015-16 campaign.
Utica drops to 3-1-1 on the year and 2-1-1 in the conference, while Hobart improves to 4-1-1 (4-0 ECAC West). UC gets back to action Friday as it travels to Neumann University. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Hobart got on the board at 15:57 of the first period as it capitalized on a 5-on-3 powerplay to take the 1-0 lead. Nick Bingaman netted his second of the year, while Connor Simon and Bobby Sokol tallied assists.
The Statesmen extended their lead just 1:47 into the second period on a fluke play as a puck hit off traffic in front of the Utica net and bounced high into the air. Sean Rudy found himself on the side of the net and hit the puck out of midair that bounced off the side of Utica net minder Michael Fredrick (Lethbridge, Alberta/Brooks Bandits (AJHL)) and into the net to give Hobart a two-goal advantage. Tanner Shaw and Trever Poirier assisted on Rudy’s first of the year.
The Pioneers got one back on an odd-man rush as Kevin Valenti (Queensbury, NY/Northern Cyclones (EHL)) roofed a shot into the top shelf for his first of the year. Sophomore Alex Brissette (Atlanta, GA/Hampton Roads (USPHL)) and freshman Hayden Dawes (Stony Plain, Alberta/Drayton Valley (AJHL)) assisted on the play.
Hobart went on to added three more scores in the final 12 minutes, including an empty netter to remain unbeaten in ECAC West play.
Fredrick had a strong showing in net as he turned aside 37 shots, while Lino Chimienti made 26 saves for his fourth win of the season.
Hobart was 2-for-7 on the powerplay, while the Pioneers were held scoreless on six opportunities with the man advantage.
