#11 Utica 5, Hobart 2 - Box Score

GENEVA, N.Y.—The nationally-ranked No. 11 Utica College men's hockey team rallied from an early 2-0 deficit, scoring five unanswered goals, to defeat host Hobart College 5-2 as the Pioneers completed the regular season sweep of the Statesmen Saturday night at The Cooler.  Senior captain Tim Coffman (Elverson, PA/Laconia (AJHL)) netted one goal to surpass All-American Jimmy Sokol '05 as the College's all-time leading scorer. 

The Pioneers (14-5-1, 3-3-1 ECAC West) have now won three straight as they continue to jockey for positioning in the upcoming ECAC Men's West Conference Tournament.  Their last three victories will also help to build their case for a coveted Pool C bid into the NCAA Division III Tournament headed into a key weekend set against Manhattanville College on Friday and Saturday. 

“We needed two convincing wins this weekend and our guys came out and did everything we asked of them to make that happen,” said Utica Head Coach Gary Heenan. “Hobart is a quality opponent and for us to travel to their barn and finish the weekend strong says a lot about the determination of our guys right now. We got down early and responded when we needed to tonight.”

Hobart falls to 10-9-0 overall and 1-4-0 in conference play after dropping the weekend series to the Pioneers. Evan Chlanda (Islip, NY/Springfield (EJHL)) and Adam Graff (Bear, DE/Syracuse Stars (EJHL)) each logged a goal and an assist for Utica. Evan Smith (Penticton, British Columbia/Calgary Royals (AJHL)) played all 60 minutes in net for the Pioneers and stopped 30 shots. Junior Marty Ausserhofer finished with 26 saves in 59:22 in goal for Hobart.

The Statesmen struck first with 50 seconds remaining in the opening period. Peter Ryan sent a pass into the zone from the blue line, and classmate Tommaso Traversa was there to tip the puck out of mid-air and into the back of the net to put Hobart up 1-0 early on. It was Traversa's seventh goal of the season.

Hobart came out from the first intermission and made it 2-0 just 36 seconds into the second stanza. The Statesmen's second goal was very similar to their first, as junior Harry Radovich sent in a pass from the blue line that was knocked in by Brett Riley. It was Riley's first goal of the season.

Utica then began to take over the momentum of the game. Chlanda found the back of the net after a pass from Graff to cut the Pioneers' deficit to one at 8:55 in the second. After Hobart was called for two penalties, Rob Morton (New Hartford, NY/Merrimack (Hockey East)) was able to capitalize on the 5-on-3 situation to tie the game at two at 12:01. Mike Baird (Oakville, Ontario/Huntsville (OJHL)) earned the assist. The Statesmen outshot the Pioneers in the first period 10-7 and 14-13 in the second.

Utica took complete control the game in the third period. At 8:39, Coffman connected after a pass from Chlanda to give the Pioneers their first lead of the game. Steve Zappia (Buffalo, NY/Buffalo Jr. Sabres (OJAHL)) made it 4-2 with his sixth goal of the year at 12:43. Jon Gaffney (Dover, NJ/Springfield Blues (NAHL)) and Chris Santiago (Langley, British Columbia/Surrey Eagles (BCHL)) were credited with the assists. Graff capped the win for Utica with an empty net goal at 18:52. Utica outshot Hobart 11-8 in the final period.

The Statesmen held a slight 32-31 edge in shots overall.  Hobart went 0-for-5 on the power-play, and the Pioneers were 1-for-4.

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*Portions of release courtesy of Hobart Communications