For the second straight game, the sixth-ranked Hobart College hockey team erased a three-goal deficit on its way to victory. Friday evening, the Statesmen scored five goals in the second period as they rallied to knock off New England College, which was receiving votes in the USCHO.com poll, 8-5 at Lee Clement Arena. Hobart is now 17-4-2 on the season and 12-2-2 in New England Hockey Conference play.
Luke Aquaro led the way for the Statesmen recording three points on two goals and an assist. Jonah Alexander(2a) Austin Mourar (1g, 1a) and Aaron Maguyon (2a) also had multi-point games. Liam Lascelle played the final 58:36 minutes in goal and stopped 25 shots as he earned the victory.
Tim Lopez (1g, 1a), Hunter Hall (1g 1a), and Bernie McGovern (2a) led the Pilgrims (12-9-1, 7-9-1) with two points each. Spencer Kozlowski played all 60 minutes in goal for New England College, making 46 saves.
The Pilgrims started the game like they were shot out of a cannon, scoring three goals in the first 84 seconds of the game, on three consecutive shots. Anthony Cinato opened the scoring with his sixth goal of the game. Conner Inger notched an assist. Nine seconds later, Alex LaPlante pocketed his NEHC-leading 18th goal of the season. Redirecting a shot from McGovern into the back of the net. The Pilgrims extended the lead to three goals less than a minute later when David Novotny collected his 10th goal of the season. Juhwon Davis and Zach Nelson were credited with assists on the goal. The barrage of goals would result in a short leash on starting goalie Joe Halstrom as he was replaced by Lascelle. The Pilgrims continued to apply the pressure, but Lascelle came up with some key saves in his first minutes in goal.
Hobart broke up the shutout bid at the 5:58 mark of the first period. Brenden Howell picked up a rebound in the slot and stuffed the shot across the goal line for his third goal of the season. Wil Crane notched an assist on the tally. New England College regained a three-goal lead 49 seconds later when Hall slipped a shot past Lascelle for his fifth goal of the season. Brendan White and Lopez were credited with assists on the goal. Following the Hall goal the action settled down and New England College entered the first intermission with a 14-13 edge in shots on goal.
Hobart dominated the second period, finishing the frame with a 22-5 edge in shots on goal. Mark Benemerito started the rally with his sixth goal of the season. He slipped a backhanded shot from the low slot past Kozlowski. Alexander and Aquaro were credited with assists on the goal. Aquaro brought the Statesmen within a goal at the 8:39 mark of the second period. His 13th goal of the season was assisted by Alexander and Blake Coffey. Thirty-one seconds later, Hobart tied the game on Kevin Lassman’s second goal of the season. The goal was an unassisted strike. At the 11:19 mark of the middle frame, Tim Lopez gave New England College its final lead of the game. He tipped a Bernie McGovern shot past Lascelle for his fifth goal of the season. Hall picked up a secondary assist on the power-play goal.
The Statesmen answered right back tying the game at the 13:06 mark of the period. Shane Shell beat Kozlowski to collect his first collegiate goal. Two minutes later Austin Mourar scored what would prove to be the game-winning goal. His shot from the point was assisted by Maguyon and Zach Tyson.
In the third period, Hobart added a pair of power-play goals to secure the victory. At the 14:24 mark of the final frame, Aquaro notched his 14th goal of the season. Two minutes later, PA Martineau<https://hwsathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=16743> beat Kozlowski for his ninth goal of the season. Mourar and Maguyon were credited with assists on the goal.
Hobart finished the game with a 54-30 edge in shots on goal. The Statesmen were 2-for-5 on the power-play and New England College was 1-for-4 with the man advantage.
Hobart will wrap up its regular season tomorrow, Feb. 12, when it heads to Northfield, Vermont, to take on 13th-ranked Norwich. Faceoff is scheduled for 4 p.m.
