GENEVA, N.Y.—The No. 4 Hobart College hockey team’s season came to an end tonight after a 2-0 loss to No. 7 UMass Boston in an NCAA tournament quarterfinal game in The Cooler. The Statesmen finished the year with a 21-5-2 overall record, tying the program record for wins in a season.
It was Hobart’s sixth NCAA tournament appearance. The Beacons are making their first NCAA tournament appearance and advance to the national semifinals in Lake Placid, N.Y., where they will face St. Norbert on Friday, March 25.
The Statesmen posted a 15-12 edge in shots in the first period, but neither team was able to get on the scoreboard. Nine minutes into the second, Matt Lemire capitalized on a power play for the Beacons, finding the back of the net off assists from Albee Daley and Frankie Augustine. UMass Boston had the momentum in the second period, outshooting the Statesmen 13-11. Garrett Gallagher came inches away from making it 2-0, when his shot slid by Hobart goaltender senior Lino Chimienti (Montreal, Quebec) and bounced off the left pipe with just over 10 minutes to go in the middle period.
It was Hobart that came out firing in the third. The Statesmen registered a 16-4 lead in shots in the final 20 minutes. Junior Jon Neal had one of Hobart’s best scoring opportunities, firing a shot from the top of the slot that banged off the crossbar and fell inches in front of the goal line. Mike Thomson scored 12:05 into the third to give the Beacons the 2-0 lead. With 1:44 left in the game, the Statesmen pulled Chimienti for an extra skater, but they were unable to break through.
Chimienti finished with 27 saves in 58:16. His save .946 percentage this season ranks first on the Hobart single season list and his 1.71 goals against average ranks fourth. Chimienti finished his career ranked fourth on Hobart’s list for career wins (31), fourth in career save percentage (.921), and fourth in career goals against average (2.42).
Beacon goalie Billy Faust played all 60 minutes and made 42 saves. He logged his second shutout of the NCAA tournament. Hobart finished with a 42-29 advantage in shots. The Statesmen were 0-for-2 on the power play, and UMass Boston went 1-for-2.
The 2015-16 Statesmen set Hobart season records for goals against average (1.77) and save percentage (.939). They tied for fourth on the single season list with three shutouts this year. Four Statesmen played the final game of their Hobart careers tonight, Chimienti, Mac Olson (Grosse Pointe, Mich.), Ben Gamache (Longlac, Ontario), and Brad Robbins (Murrieta, Calif.). They have helped Hobart to a 75-26-8 four-year record, back-to-back ECAC West titles for the first time in program history, and two NCAA tournament appearances.
Goals by Period 1 2 3 Total
UMass Boston 0 1 1 2
Hobart 0 0 0 0
1st period – Penalties – Jeremy Finger, UMB (hooking) 11:46; Matt
Lemire, UMB (cross-checking) 16:00; Mac Olson, HOB (roughing) 16:00.
2nd period – 1, UMB, Matt Lemire/15 (Albee Daley, Frankie
DeAugustine) 9:00 (pp). Penalties – Jon Neal, HOB (interference) 8:16;
Garrett Gallagher, UMB (interference) 11:31; Tanner Shaw, HOB
(cross-checking) 13:22.
3rd period – 2, UMB, Mike Thomson/4 12:05. Penalties –
Shots on goal – UMB 12-13-4 29; HOB 15-11-16 42.
Power plays – UMB 1 of 2; HOB 0 of 2.
Penalties – UMB 3 (6 min); HOB 3 (6 min).
Goalies – UMB, Billy Faust (60:00 minutes, 42 shots-42 saves); HOB,
Lino Chimienti (58:16, 29-27) , EMPTY NET (01:44, 0-0).
Penalty shots – None.
A-553 T-2:07
Three stars: 1. None 2. None 3. None
Referee:Joel Dupree; Chris Shepley Linesman:Brian Oliver
Win-Billy Faust. Loss-Lino Chimienti.
