Hobart College attackman Derrek Madonna scored four goals, but nationally-ranked Saint Joseph’s University rode a hot goalie to a 14-7 victory in the Northeast Conference Championship game. The loss snapped a five-game winning streak by the Statesmen, who end the year with a 7-6 overall record, while the Hawks earned their first league championship, improving to 14-3.
Madonna, who finished the tournament with 12 points on 10 goals and two assists, was named to the All-Tournament Team along with defensemen Michael Christiansen (4 GB, 3CT) and Maxwell Horton (4GB, 3CT) and faceoff specialist Adam Shea (28-of-50, 20 GB).
SJU goalie Robbie Seeley finished the game with 16 saves and posted 27 stops for the tournament to earn MVP honors. Attackman Carter Page joined Seeley on the All-Tournament Team after scoring a game-high five goals as did Levi Anderson, who added four points (2-2). Faceoff specialist Zach Cole and defenseman Logan Blondell also represented the Hawks on the all-tourney team.
Saint Joseph’s scored the game’s first two goals and never trailed in the contest. Madonna scored his first with the man advantage to get Hobart on the board seven minutes into the game. SJU sandwiched goals around a tally by attackman Tommy Mott to carry a 4-2 lead into the second quarter.
Page scored three of his five goals on the day in the second quarter, while Madonna netted the lone score for Hobart as the home team went into the locker room with a 9-3 lead.
Madonna completed his hat trick with the first goal of the second half, getting the Statesmen within five. Attackman Ryan Archer assisted on the goal. It was his 99th career assist, tying him with Jeff Tambroni ’92 for sixth on Hobart’s all-time list.
SJU potted three goals before the Statesmen would strike again. This time Archer scored off an assist from midfielder Chad Bach to make it a 12-5 game entering the fourth quarter. Anderson scored 11 seconds into the final frame, but attackman Alex Rosa and Madonna scored two minutes apart to get Hobart within six with just over seven minutes remaining. Seeley stopped the final three shots Hobart put on cage to keep the Statesmen’s comeback hopes from gaining momentum.
Madonna’s final tally gave him a team-leading 33 for the season, tied for eighth on Hobart’s Division I era list.
Archer finished his career with 186 career points (87-99), just six behind Chris Aslanian’s career record for Hobart’s Division I era. Madonna, who has a year of eligibility remaining raised his career point total to 114, 14th on the DI era list. His 85 career goals are 10th, two behind Archer and Jared Bebee ’00, who are tied for eighth. Mott completed his career with 107 points, 17th among DI Statesmen.
Archer’s 61 points and 35 assists this year, led Hobart and are both second on the Division I era list. Shea posted a team-high 114 ground balls, which is third on the DI era list.
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