Hobart first-year defenseman Bauer Morrissey scored at the 15:17 mark of the fourth overtime to send the top-ranked Statesmen past 12th-ranked Curry 4-3. The victory secured Hobart a spot in the national semifinals. Hobart is now 26-2-1 on the season. The game was the second longest in NCAA Division III Men’s Hockey history checking in at 135:17 minutes.
Hobart is making its fifth overall and second straight trip to the national semifinals. The Statesmen also advanced to the final four in 2006, 2009, 2019 and 2023. Hobart will take on Utica in one of the two semifinals. The game will take place in Hartford, Connecticut at Trinity College.
Senior Jonah Alexander and sophomore Tanner Daniels led the Statesmen with a goal and an assist each. Sophomore Damon Beaverwent the distance in goal and made 44 saves as he earned his 16th win of the season.
Eight different skaters recorded a point for the Colonels, who ended their season with a 21-6-1 overall record. Shane Soderwall went the distance in goal and made 98 saves.
NOTEWORTHY
- Soderwall matched the NCAA Division III record with his 98 saves in the game.
- The game fell just three minutes short of the NCAA record. Gustavus Adolphus and Augsburg went 138:38 minutes in 2010.
- Hobart’s win tonight was its 37th consecutive win at The Cooler. The Statesmen’s streak started with a win over Elmira in the NCAA tournament in 2022. St. Norbert had held the record for 20 years.
STREAKING
- Hobart’s win tonight extends its unbeaten streak to 23 games. The Statesmen are 22-0-1 since losing to Babson on Nov. 11.
THE WINNER
- Morrissey ripped a wrist shot from the point through a screen and into the back of the net. His fifth goal of the season was assisted by Daniels and Kahlil Fontana.
SCORING SUMMARY
- Curry opened the scoring with 31 seconds remaining in the first period. Killian Rowlee picked up a rebound and slipped a shot past Beaver for his 11th goal of the season. Wilhelm Patriksson and George Vonakis had assists on the goal.
- The Colonels took a 2-0 lead at the 4:38 mark of the second period. Gage Dill slipped a backhanded shot past Beaver for his 12th goal of the season. Alex Duncan had an assist on the goal.
- Daniels started Hobart’s comeback attempt at the 15:21 mark of the second period. He slipped a shot over Soderwall’s glove for his fifth goal of the year. Fontana had a helper on the tally.
- Just over a minute into the third period, first-year Chris Duclair tied the game at two with his 15th goal of the season. Alexander and Conor Lally were awarded assists on the goal.
- Two minutes later, Alexander gave Hobart a 3-2 lead netting his sixth goal of the season. Junior Luke Aquaro and senior Jared Pattersonwere credited with assists on the goal.
- Tao Ishizuka’s 11th goal of the season made it a 3-3 game with just under seven minutes remaining in regulation. His goal was assisted by Austan Bellefuille and Matt Connor.
KEY STATS
- Hobart finished the game with a 102-47 advantage in shots on goal. That included a 53-28 advantage in the four overtime periods.
- Neither team had a power-play goal. Hobart was 0-for-3 with the man advantage and Curry was 0-for-2 with the extra skater.
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to [email protected].