GENEVA, N.Y.—Despite a furious second period rally, the Hobart College ice hockey team fell to Endicott 4-3 in an NCAA tournament first round game played tonight in The Cooler. The Statesmen, who were ranked No. 4 and No. 5 in the national polls, finish the year with a 20-5-4 overall record.
The Gulls, who are ranked No. 7 in the nation, are now 24-3-2 and advance to the NCAA quarterfinals.
Endicott built a 3-0 lead midway through the second period. The Statesmen put together a quick three goal run late in the second, but it was the Gulls who logged the game winner midway through the third period.
Three different Statesmen scored in the loss and seven earned a point. Junior goaltender Frank Oplinger made 28 saves in 58:51. Jason Kalinowski led the Gulls with two goals, including the game winner. Cam Bleck added two assists. Kevin Aldridge made 40 saves in the win for Endicott.
The Gulls netted the lone goal of the first period. Frank Spellman sent home the rebound off a shot by Jack Musil that was saved. Spellman lifted the puck over the pads of Frank Oplinger to give the Gulls the 1-0 advantage.
Just 4:04 into the second, Tommy Besinger made it 2-0 for Endicott on a 4-on-4. Bleck set up the play. At the 12:08 mark, Kalinowski tipped in a blast by Michael Heidkamp from the blue line to build a 3-0 lead for the Gulls.
The Statesmen responded with three straight goals, all in the last six minutes of the second, to knot the game at 3-3. With 5:50 left in the second, senior Bobby Sokol sent a pass across ice to classmate Nick Bingaman on the right side. He slid his shot in for his team-leading 19th goal of the year. Just 3:18 later, senior Bo Webster logged the fifth goal of his senior season after quick assists from sophomore Jonas Toupal and first-year Lawson MacDougall to get the Statesmen within one. With 1:33 left in the middle period, junior Tyler Wolf tied the game up at 3-3. He powered in a shot from right in front. It was his second goal this winter, and sophomore Tanner Shaw was credited with the assist. Shaw led Hobart with 19 assists this season.
Both teams came out firing in the third period. The Statesmen ended up with a 16-12 advantage in shots in the final frame, but it was the Gulls who found the game-winning goal. At the 10:50 mark, Kalinowski pushed in the puck from right in front and it trickled across the goal line. Logan Day and Bleck earned the assists. Hobart had two power-play opportunities late the third and pulled Oplinger for a total of 1:09 for the extra skater, but could not tie the game up a second time.
Hobart finished with a 43-32 advantage in shots. The Statesmen went 0-for-5 on the power play and killed the Gulls one power-play attempt.
the Hobart Class of 2017 Jon Neal, Nick Bingaman, Bobby Sokol, Connor Simon, Tyler Hanzlik, Bo Webster, Tim Keegan, Michael Russo, Mitch Beyer and Carl Belizario notched 76 wins in their four years, a new program record for wins by a graduating class. Hobart’s seniors led them to three straight NCAA tournament appearances and three straight ECAC West tournament titles.
