Hobart College senior Bobby Sokol (Belle Vernon, Pa.) scored the game-winning goal 1:48 into the third period to secure a 3-2 win for the No. 6 Statesmen hockey team over Nazareth in an ECAC West game played tonight in The Cooler. The Statesmen improve to 5-1-1 overall and 4-1-0 in the ECAC West.
The Golden Flyers are now 3-3-1 overall and 3-2-0 in conference play. Sokol and senior Carl Belizario (Dorval, Quebec) led Hobart with a goal and an assist each. First-year Alexander Connal (Simsbury, Conn.) played all 60 minutes and made 35 saves.
Just 3:51 into the first period, senior Nick Bingaman (Paradise Valley, Ariz.) put Hobart on the scoreboard after a feed from Sokol. The Golden Flyers responded with a power-play goal just over four minutes later from John Power. Austin Romzek and Dominik Gabaj were credited with the assists. With 2:07 left in the opening period, Belizario took back the lead for Hobart. First-year Julien Denicourt (Bromont, Quebec) set up the play.
With 4:08 left in the second period, Justin LaCorte tied the game up at 2-2 for Nazareth. Phil Kreuser notched the assist. Just 1:48 into the third period, Sokol found the back of the net for what proved to be the game winner. Belizario registered the assist. The Golden Flyers pulled goalie, Brandon Lane, for the extra skater with 1:10 remaining, but they were unable to find the equalizer. Lane finished with 29 saves in goal for Nazareth.
The Golden Flyers held a 37-32 edge in shots. Hobart went 0-for-5 on the power play, and Nazareth converted on one of their five power-play attempts.
The Statesmen are back in action tomorrow, Nov. 19, when they host Utica for another ECAC West game at 7 p.m.
