The top-ranked Hobart College cruised to a 5-0 victory over third-ranked Elmira College in a New England Hockey Conference contest at The Cooler this afternoon. With the win, the Statesmen completed a weekend sweep of their travel partner, outscoring, the Soaring Eagles 12-2 in the two games.
Junior Shane Shell led Hobart (18-2-1, 12-1-1) with three points on a goal and two assists. Sophomore Ignat Belov (2a) and senior Jonah Alexander (1g, 1a) finished with multi-point games. Sophomore Mavrick Goyerstopped all 15 shots he faced as he earned his sixth shutout of the season.
Kyle Curtin and Jeffrey Zero split time in goal for Elmira (15-5-1, 8-5-1). They combined for 53 saves.
STREAKING
- With tonight’s win, Hobart extended its unbeaten streak to a program-record 15 games. The Statesmen are 14-0-1 since losing to Babson on November 11.
- Hobart has won 31 straight games at The Cooler. It is the longest active winning streak and is the second longest in Division III history.
RECORD WATCH
- Goyer’s shutout was his sixth of the season. It is one behind Hobart’s single-season record held by sophomore Damon Beaver. In his seven wins this season, Goyer has six shutouts.
- Hobart’s 11 shutouts this year are tied for third on the NCAA Division III single-season list.
KEY STATS
- Hobart finished the game with a 48-15 advantage in shots on goal.
- Hobart was 1-for-7 on the power play and Elmira was 0-for-3 with the man advantage. The Statesmen’s opponents are now 1-for-66 on the power play this season.
GAME MOMENTS
- Hobart opened the scoring at the 11:12 mark of the first period when sophomore Tanner Hartmannotched his 13th goal of the season. He picked up a rebound in the slot and flipped a shot past Curtin. Belov was awarded an assist on the tally.
- In the middle portion of the period, Hobart appeared to take a 2-0 lead, but Luke Aquaro’s goal was taken off the board by the officials after a lengthy discussion between the officials.
- Aquaro did give Hobart a two-goal lead with six seconds remaining in the frame. His 13th goal of the season was a power-play goal. Aquaro one-time a pass from Shell inside the left goalpost. Alexander also had an assist on the goal.
- Alexander netted a goal of his own at the 5:17 mark of the second period. He redirected a Tristan Fasigshot across the goal line for his fourth goal of the season. Shell picked up the second assist.
- Shell put the game out of reach with his fourth goal of the season. At the 12:28 mark of the middle frame, he ripped a wrist shot from the left faceoff circle over Curtin’s glove. Seniors Matthieu Wuth and Jared Patterson were awarded assists on the tally.
- Two minutes later, senior Christian Duvall rounded out the scoring with his third goal of the season. He wired a shot from the left faceoff circle into the top left corner of the cage. Belov and junior Matthew Perryman set up the goal.
COACH’S CORNER
“I thought the guys did exactly what we wanted to do,” Mason Family Hobart Head Hockey Coach Mark Taylorsaid of the weekend sweep. “We wanted to stay focused on our brand of hockey and playing it with character and discipline as much as we could. I thought the guys did a great job of that. In the end, I think that was the advantage besides executing. If you are locked in on how you have to play, I think you will execute. We did a good job of keeping our emotions in check and play in order.”
UP NEXT
Hobart will be back in action next weekend, Feb. 2-3, when it takes on Johnson & Wales and UMass Boston. The Statesmen will take on the Wildcats on Friday at 7 p.m. and the Beacons on Saturday at 4 p.m.
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to [email protected].