GENEVA, N.Y.—The No. 6/10 Hobart College hockey team earned its fourth straight win, defeating Castleton 6-1 in an NEHC game played tonight in The Cooler. The Statesmen are now 4-1-0 overall and 3-0-0 in conference play.
The Spartans are 1-3-0 and 0-3-0 in the NEHC. First-year Andrew Longo scored his first two collegiate goals in the victory for Hobart. Junior Jonas Toupal and sophomore Zach Sternbach added a goal and an assist apiece. Senior goaltender Frank Oplinger made 11 saves in the win.
The Statesmen recorded a 17-4 advantage in shots in the first period, and it was senior Jordan Haskell who broke through for Hobart with 3:08 left in the period. Haskell was whistled for the Statesmen’s first penalty of the game, but redeemed himself scoring on his first shift back. First-year Travis Schneider had his shot on goal saved, and the rebound bounced to junior Tanner Shaw. Shaw found Haskell who lifted his shot into the back of the netting for the 1-0 advantage. It was Haskell’s third goal this year.
Castleton evened the score 3:02 into the second period. Oplinger stopped the initial Spartan shot, but the rebound bounced to Corey Sikich who tied things up. Simon Teodorsson and Matt Bloomer earned the assists.
Hobart scored two goals to close out the second period with a 3-1 lead. At 9:54, senior Ben Greiner notched his second goal of the season after passes from senior Vincent Russo and junior Cam Shaheen. With 3:58 left in the second, Toupal tallied his fourth of the season. He cleaned up a loose puck from right in front. Sternbach and sophomore Colin Merrill were credited with the assists.
The Statesmen ran away with the game scoring three more goals in the third period. Castleton came inches away from getting a second goal around five minutes into the final frame, when Bloomer rang a shot off the post. Longo notched his first collegiate goal for Hobart with 3:49 remaining. He sent home the rebound from his initial blocked shot. Forty-two seconds later, Sternbach tallied his third goal this season. Sophomore Lawson MacDougall and Toupal set up the play. With 1:01 to go, Longo struck again. This time off assists from first-years Mike Faulkner and Phil Satin.
Each team went 0-for-4 on the power play. Hobart finished with a 49-12 advantage in shots. Wyatt Pickrell made 43 saves in goal for Castleton.
The Statesmen are back in action tomorrow, Nov. 11, when they host defending national champion Norwich for another NEHC game in The Cooler at 4 p.m.
