GENEVA, N.Y.—The No. 6 Hobart College ice hockey team rallied with three third period goals to take down Babson 3-1 in the season opener for both teams tonight in The Cooler.
The teams will face each other tomorrow, Oct. 29, in The Cooler for another non-league game at 4 p.m. Senior Bobby Sokol (Belle Vernon, Pa.) scored two goals in the win for Hobart. Junior Frank Oplinger (Sewickley, Pa.) made 34 saves in goal for the Statesmen.
After a scoreless first period, Babson got on the board first with a goal from Ryan Gouveia. He deflected in a pass from Michael Phillips from behind the goal. Rob Devaney also earned an assist on the play.
Just 31 seconds into the third period, senior Nick Bingaman (Paradise Valley, Ariz.) had a breakaway chance for Hobart, but Babson goaltender Matt Pompa made the save. Pompa finished with 39 saves in goal for the Beavers. The Statesmen killed off two 5-on-3 Babson power plays early in the third.
With 8:49 left in the third, Sokol broke through for Hobart. Senior Jon Neal (Encinitas, Calif.) took a pass from Bingaman and blasted a shot on goal that was saved. The rebound bounced to Sokol whose first shot was saved, but he lifted his second shot over Pompa’s pads to tie the game up at one.
With 4:46 on the clock, junior Vincent Russo (Jackson, N.J.) fired a shot on goal for Hobart, but Pompa denied the chance with a glove save. Just 33 seconds later, senior Bo Webster (Aurora, Ontario) capitalized on the final seconds of a Statesmen power play. His shot gave Hobart its first lead of the 2016-17 season. Sophomore Jonas Toupal (Vcelna, Czech Republic) and junior Ben Greiner (Newport Beach, Calif.) earned the assists.
The Beavers called a timeout with 48 seconds remaining in regulation, and pulled Pompa for the extra skater. They were unable to take advantage, and instead Sokol struck again, this time on an empty net. Senior Carl Belizario (Dorval, Quebec) was credited with the assist.
Hobart finished with a 42-35 advantage in shots. The Statesmen were 1-for-7 on the power play and killed off all six of Babson’s power play chances.
