The third-ranked Hobart College hockey team scored three power-play goals and added a shorthanded tally as it rallied for a 4-1 victory over seventh-ranked Babson in the New England Hockey Conference opener for both teams on Friday night. With the win, the Statesmen are now 3-0-0 on the season with a 1-0-0 record in conference play.
Tristan Fasig led the way for Hobart, recording a goal and an assist. First-year goalie Damon Beaver registered an assist and made 28 saves. Nate Muller started in goal for Babson and made 35 saves.
KEY STATS:
- Hobart finished the game with a 39-20 edge in shots on goal.
- The Statesmen were 3-for-6 on the power play and Babson was 1-for-5 with the extra skater.
FIRST PERIOD:
- Neither team scored in the opening frame and both teams had 12 shots.
- Beaver stood tall in Hobart’s goal early in the first period as he withstood an early Babson flurry.
- Babson continued to apply pressure on a mid-period power play, but the Statesmen kept Babson on the board.
- Following the penalty kill, Luke Aquaro nearly gave the Statesmen a 1-0 lead, but his shot was stopped by Muller.
SECOND PERIOD:
- Forty-one seconds into the middle frame, Luke Aquaro broke into the Babson zone on a breakaway but his shot from the slot was stopped by Muller.
- The Beavers opened the scoring at the 4:01 mark of the Period. Egan Schmitt fired a shot from the slot past Beaver for his second goal of the year. Thomas Kramer and Colby Bailey were awarded assists on the power-play goal.
- Hobart tied the game with a power-play goal of its own just past the mid-way point of the opening period. Zach Tyson raced the length of the rink and slipped a shot past Muller for his second goal of the season. Gagik Malakyan and Damon Beaver earned assists on the goal.
- Just over a minute later, Aquaro chipped a backhanded shot across the goalline. It was his second goal of the season. Jonah Alexanderand Cooper Swift were credited with assists on the power play.
- Tristan Fasig gave Hobart a 3-1 lead at the 17:13 mark of the period. He intercepted a clearing pass and snapped a shot from the low slot past Muller. The shorthanded tally was his first collegiate goal.
THIRD PERIOD:
- Chris Rooney had a chance for Babson at the 1:24 mark of the frame, but he fired his shot off of the goal post.
- Tanner Hartman added an insurance goal at the 6:54 mark of the final frame. He one-timed a shot from the right faceoff circle into the net. Fasig sent the cross-ice pass to Hartman.
COACH’S CORNER:
“Those are the type of games that you like to win because of the stripes you earn,” Head Coach Mark Taylor said. “I don’t think we were really on our game 100%. It never really felt like we found our rhythm all the way through the game and we had a very good opponent factoring into that, but It was a good sign to see the guys stay composed, stay together and stay after it even though it didn’t come as smoothly as maybe they wanted or expected it to.”
UP NEXT:
Hobart will be back in action tomorrow, November 5, when it welcomes the University of Southern Maine to The Cooler. The faceoff is scheduled for 4 p.m.
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to [email protected].