Olson scores game winner 9 seconds into OT, Hobart tops #5/7 Williams 3-2
Hobart College sophomore Mac Olson (Grosse Pointe, Mich.) scored just nine seconds into overtime to secure a 3-2 victory for the Statesmen hockey team over No. 5/7 Williams College in the first game of the 2014 Buck Supply Winter Classic hosted by Plattsburgh State this afternoon.
Hobart improves to 3-4-4 overall with the victory in the first game of the 2014 portion of its schedule. The Statesmen served the Ephs (5-1-2) their first loss this season. It was the seventh overtime game Hobart has played this year and its first OT victory. The Statesmen advance to the Buck Supply Winter Classic championship game tomorrow, Jan. 4 at 7 p.m. Hobart will take on the winner of tonight’s 7 p.m. game between No. 1 Plattsburgh and Hamilton.
The Statesmen took a 1-0 lead just 19 seconds into the game. Junior Robert Sovik (Prague/Czech Republic) tallied his team-high fifth goal this season. His shot from right in front deflected off the post and into the goal. Senior Tommy Fiorentino (New Hartford, N.Y.) earned the assist.
Williams tied up the game at 10:25 in the second period. Nick Anderson sent home a shot after a pass from George Hunkele.
Just 6:10 into the third period, junior Tommaso Traversa (Torino, Italy) put the Statesmen back on top 2-1 with a power-play goal. It was his second goal this season. Traversa tipped in a shot by first-year Carl Belizario (Dorval, Quebec)from the right points. Junior Ryan Michel (Camillus, N.Y.) also earned an assist on the play. A little over five minutes later, Williams tied the game for a second time. Sam Gray made it 2-2 off assists from Greg Johnson and Hunkele to send the game into the extra period.
Only nine seconds after the overtime began, Olson clinched the win for Hobart. With a lot of traffic in front of the net, Olson was able to sneak one past Williams’ goaltender Sean Dougherty for his fourth of the season. He leads the Statesmen with eight points this year.
Dougherty finished with 33 saves in 60:06 in goal for the Ephs. Sophomore Lino Chimienti (Montreal, Quebec) made 24 saves in all 60:09 in goal for the Statesmen. Hobart held a 36-26 advantage in shots. The Statesmen went 1-for-3 on the power play, and Williams finished 0-for-5.
