The fifth-ranked Hobart College hockey team was edged by Skidmore 3-2 in a New England Hockey Conference semifinal contest at The Cooler this evening. The Statesmen are now 19-5-2 on the season.
Skidmore improved to 15-9-2 overall this season and will take on Babson next Saturday, March 5, in the NEHC Championship game. Hobart will now have to await its fate as an at-large bid in the NCAA tournament. The men’s hockey selection show will be on March 7 at 10 a.m.
Eight different players had a point for Hobart. Liam Lascelle started in goal and made 19 saves in just over 59 minutes of work.
Zach Frisk had a goal and an assist to lead the way for the Thoroughbreds. Tate Brandon made 32 saves in 60 minutes of work.
The first period was tightly contested with Skidmore emerging with a 9-8 edge in shots on goal. Hobart appeared to take a 1-0 lead in the opening frame, but the goal was waved off because of a hand pass. Brendan Howell also fired a shot off of the goal post.
Skidmore opened the scoring at the 16:39 mark of the second period on Kaeden Patrick’s 12th goal of the season. He one-timed a shot from the high slot past Lascelle. Mike Gelatt and Danny Magnuson were credited with assists on the goal. Hobart had its chances in the second period, but Brandon stood tall making 12 saves in the frame.
The Thoroughbreds took a 2-0 lead at the 8:39 mark of the third period. Frisk split a pair of defenders and lifted a backhanded shot over Lascelle’s blocker. Devon Mussio and Matthew Monk notched assists on the goal. Three minutes later, Luke Aquaro broke up Skidmore’s shutout bid. He raced down the left side of the ice and snuck a wrist shot past Brandon for his team-leading 15th goal of the season. Blake Coffey was credited with an assist after winning a puck battle in the Hobart defensive zone. Skidmore regained a two-goal advantage at the 13:49 mark of the third period. Zach Lindewirth fired a shot from the right faceoff circle into the back of the net. Will Dow-Kenny and Zach Frisk were credited with assists on the power-play goal.
Hobart would not go quietly. Matthieu Wuth made it 3-2 with his second goal of the season. His shot from the point broke a Skidmore defender’s stick and trickled past Brandon’s outstretched leg pad. Jared Patterson and Shane Shell logged assists on the goal. The Statesmen pressed for the equalizer in the closing minutes, but Brandon stood tall and held on to the one-goal lead.
Hobart finished the game with a 34-22 edge in shots on goal. Skidmore was 1-for 4 on the power play and the Statesmen were 0-for-3 with the man advantage.
