GENEVA, N.Y. – The No. 5/9 Hobart College hockey team erupted for nine goals as they defeated Brockport in non-conference action at The Cooler this evening. Senior Ben Gamache matched the Statesmen’s single-game record with four helpers in tonight’s contest.
The nine goals scored by Hobart (10-2-2) in tonight’s game are the most by a Statesmen team since the 2012-13 team put 10 goals past Salve Regina on Oct. 26, 2012. Gamache is the sixth Hobart player to notch four assists in a game and the first since Patrick Moriarty had four against Elmira on Nov. 19, 2010.
The opening 20 minutes of the contest was a tightly contested battle with both teams scoring twice. Brockport’s Tim Kielich opened the scoring at 6:12 of the first period. Kielich scored on a back door one-timer set up by Chase Nieuwendyk and Ryan Kangas.
Sophomore Tyler Wolf tied the game at one with his first goal of the game. Bobby Sokol and Nick Bingaman were credited with assists. Under two minutes later, Bingaman pocketed a short-handed goal to give the Statesmen a 2-1 lead. Sokol broke up a play in the neutral zone and fed a leading pass to Bingaman. Bingaman deked around a defender and lifted a backhanded shot past Jared Lockhurst, Brockport’s goalie.
The Golden Eagles (6-7-2) evened the score at two when Chris Luker scored at 18:40 of the first period. Luker’s blast from the point cleanly beat the Hobart goalie, Frank Oplinger<http://www.hwsathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7979>. Nick Palumbo and James Ryan set up Luker’s goal.
The Statesmen broke the game open in the second period with four goals. Sophomore Andrew Silard’s second goal of the season would prove to be the game-winner. Silard, who was screening Lockhurst, redirected a shot from Gamache. Sophomore Vincent Russo also collected an assist. At 14:51 of the second period, Hobart again struck shorthanded.Mac Olson’s ninth goal of the year and first of the game gave the Statesmen a two goal lead. Gamache broke up a Brockport clearing attempt and fed a pass to Olson who snapped a shot from inside the hash marks. Senior’s Sean Rudy and Brad Robbins scored 31 seconds a part to give Hobart a 6-2 lead after 40 minutes.
Wolf’s second goal of the game gave the Statesmen a five goal lead and was set up by Sokol and Bingaman. At 12:12 of the third period, Wolf returned the favor setting up Bingaman for his third power-play goal of the season. Olson’s second goal of the game and team-leading 10th of the season closed out the scoring at 15:01 of the third period.
Oplinger, who was making his second straight start in goal for the Statesmen, stopped 19 shots. Lockhurst made 40 stops in 60 minutes of action for the Golden Eagles.
The Statesmen outshot Brockport 49-21. Hobart went 1-of-3 on the power play, while the Golden Eagles came away empty on their four opportunities.
The Statesmen will return to action next weekend when they travel to Martha’s Vineyard, Mass., for the 2016 Vineyard Classic. Hobart will face Curry on Jan. 15 at 7:30 p.m. and then play Salve Regina at 5 p.m. the next day
