GENEVA, N.Y.-The No. 6/10 Hobart College ice hockey team and No. 3/4 Norwich skated to a 2-2 tie in an NEHC game at the Cooler this afternoon. The Statesmen, who extended their unbeaten streak to five games, are now 4-1-1 overall and 3-0-1 in conference play.
First-year Mike Faulkner scored both of Hobart’s goals and finished with a game-high two points. Sophomore Alexander Connal made 21 saves in the tie.
The Cadets (3-1-1, 3-0-1) had the game’s first major scoring opportunity. Felix Brassard walked into the attacking zone and fired a shot off of the right post behind Connal. A minute later, Brassard had a point blank shot turned aside by Connal’s blocker.
Faulkner opened the scoring with an unassisted goal at 5:20 of the first period. He disrupted a Norwich clearing attempt and wristed home a shot that trickled through Braeden Ostepchuk’s legs and across the goal line.
The Statesmen controlled the opening period, outshooting Norwich 15-4.
Norwich opened the second period with a pair of goals 15 seconds apart. Brassard scored his second goal of the season at 3:39 to tie the game at one. He split a pair of Hobart defenders and picked the upper right corner of the net with a slick wrist shot. Carter Cowlthorp and Jordan Hall were credited with assists. Colby Downs fired home a one-timer for his team-leading fifth goal of the season at 3:54. Kevin Salvucci and TJ Dockery recorded the assists.
At 12:13 of the third period, Faulkner tied the game 2-2. He blasted a slap shot past Ostepchuk from the point. The power-play goal was assisted by Cam Shaheen and Vincent Russo. It was Faulkner’s third goal of the season.
Christian Thompson nearly gave the Cadets a 3-2 lead, but his snap shot bounced off the crossbar, deflecting harmlessly to the boards.
In overtime, both team had golden scoring opportunities but were unable to put the puck in the back of the net. Norwich’s Connor Evangelista ripped a shot off the post three minutes into the extra session. With 1:43 left in the game, Travis Schneider<http://hwsathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=13179>’s was robbed by a beautiful glove save from Ostepchuk.
The Statesmen were 1-for-5 with the man advantage and killed off all four of the Cadet’s power plays, including a five minute major that spanned the final 25 seconds of regulation and overtime. Ostepchuk made 29 saves for Norwich.
Hobart will be back in action next weekend, Nov. 17-18, when they begin a three-game road trip. The Statesmen will take on UMass Boston on Friday, Nov. 17, at 7 p.m. and Babson on Saturday, Nov. 18 at 4 p.m.
