The fifth-ranked Hobart College hockey team rolled past Southern Maine, 5-2, in a New England Hockey Conference quarterfinal contest at The Cooler this afternoon. With the victory, the Statesmen are now 19-4-2 overall this season.
Zach Tyson led all skaters with three points on two goals and an assist. Gagik Malakyan, Aaron Maguyon and Artem Buzoverya all had two assists in the victory. Liam Lascelle played all 60 minutes in goal for the Statesmen, making 22 saves.
The Huskies (8-14-1) were led by Brendan Dowler who scored both of the team’s goals. Curtis Judd had an assist on both tallies. Anthony D’Aloisio played just under 58 minutes in goal and made 35 saves for Southern Maine.
Hobart opened the scoring at the 5:11 mark of the first period. Crashing hard to the net, Tyson poked a loose puck across the goal line. His eighth goal of the season was assisted by Buzoverya and Maguyon. The Huskies answered with 25 seconds remaining in the opening frame. Judd forced a turnover in the corner and centered a pass to Dowler. Dowler one-timed a shot over Lascelle’s shoulder while falling to the ice. It was his sixth goal of the season.
Hobart took control of the game in the second period, scoring three straight goals. The Statesmen finished the frame with a 15-4 edge in shots on goal. Chase Bell gave Hobart the lead for good with his fourth goal of the season. Standing in the slot, he redirected a Malakyan shot from the point past D’Aloisio. PA Martineau was credited with the secondary assist on the goal. Two minutes later, Tyson pocketed his ninth goal of the season. He tucked a backhanded shot inside the right goal post. Maguyon and Buzoverya notched assists on the goal. Jonah Alexander extended Hobart’s lead to three goals. Jared Patterson fired a shot from the point off of Alexander’s skate, through D’Aloisio’s legs and into the back of the net. Aquaro recorded an assist on the goal.
The Huskies were not going to go quietly, however. At the 14:44 mark of the third period, Dowler fired home his seventh goal of the season to make it a 4-2 game. Adam Withers and Judd were awarded assists on the goal. Austin Mourar rounded out the scoring with his 10th goal of the season. His power-play goal was assisted by Malakyan and Tyson.
Hobart finished the game with a 40-24 edge in shots on goal. The Statesmen were 1-for-4 on the power play and Southern Maine was 1-for-2 with the extra attacker.
Hobart will be back in action next Saturday, Feb. 19, when it hosts a NEHC semifinal contest. As the No. 1 seed, the Statesmen will face the lowest remaining seed in the conference tournament.
