Nazareth scores two 3rd period goals to edge Hobart 4-3
GENEVA, N.Y.–The Nazareth College hockey team scored two third period goals to defeat No. 15 Hobart 4-3 in an ECAC West game played tonight at The Cooler. The Statesmen fall to 10-5-4 overall and 4-2-3 in the conference, while the Golden Flyers improve to 6-12-1 and 2-6-1 in the ECAC West.
Nazareth ended Hobart’s record-matching eight game win streak. It’s the Golden Flyers fourth straight win and third straight over a nationally ranked opponent, having defeated then No. 10 Utica and then No. 14 Geneseo last weekend. Mark Zavorin scored twice for the Golden Flyers and Jordan Ciccarello added two assists. Ed Zdolshek played all 60 minutes in goal and made 37 saves in the win.
First-year Carl Belizario (Dorval, Quebec) led Hobart with a goal and two assists. First-year Mitch Beyer (Clifton Park, N.Y.) added a goal and an assist and junior Ryan Michel(Camillus, N.Y.) chipped in two assists. Sophomore Lino Chimienti (Montreal/Quebec)played 59:32 in goal and made 22 saves.
The Statesmen jumped out to a 2-1 lead in the first period. Just 5:10 in, Belizario found the back of the net on a low shot from the right corner off assists from Beyer and Michel. It was his fourth tally this year. Beyer notched his fourth goal this season to put Hobart up 2-0 with5:01 left in the first. His goal came on a one-timer off a feed from junior Robert Sovik (Prague, Czech Republic). Belizario was also credited with an assist on the play. With just1:42 left in the first, Zavorin put Nazareth on the board, capitalizing on a power play. He scored top shelf from the slot. Don Oliveri and Travis Hill earned the assists.
Zavorin struck again at 5:20 in the second to tie things up at 2-2. His second goal also came on a power play. This time it was off passes from Packy Jones and Ciccarello. With just 57 seconds left in the middle period, senior Tommy Fiorentino (New Hartford, N.Y.)scored on a tip in off a quick crease pass from Belizario on a rush to give Hobart a 3-2 lead into the second intermission. The goal was Fiorentino’s sixth this season and was his 50th career point.
Nazareth came out strong in the final period, scoring twice to secure the victory. Ben Blasko tied up the game at 3-3 at 11:22. Blasko kept control of the puck while falling to the ice and was able to slip his shot past Chimienti. With 6:43 left in regulation, Ciccarello logged what proved to be the game-winning goal for the Golden Flyers. He drilled a shot from the point through traffic and into the back of the net. It was his third goal this season.
Hobart pulled Chimienti with 28 seconds left in the third for the extra skater, however, the Statesmen were unable to find the equalizer.
The Golden Flyers finished 2-for-5 on the power play, while Hobart went 0-for-4. The Statesmen finished with a 40-26 advantage in shots.
Nazareth and Hobart will meet again tomorrow, Feb. 1, for another ECAC West contest in The Cooler at 4 p.m.
