GENEVA, N.Y.—The nationally-ranked No. 3/4 Hobart College men's hockey team used a three-goal third period to come from behind and defeat visiting Utica College 4-2 in an ECAC West Conference game Saturday afternoon. Hobart completed the regular season series sweep as the Pioneers record dropped to 9-8-3 overall and 3-5-2 in conference.

Utica returns home to the friendly confines of the Utica Memorial Auditorium on Friday night when they host Manhattanville for the first of a two-game ECAC West weekend set at 7 p.m.

The Statesmen have now won nine straight, and extended their unbeaten streak to 12 games. Hobart improves to 15-2-2 and 9-1-0 in ECAC West play.

Utica jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the opening period. Just 22 seconds into the game, Vince Stefan (Pittsburgh, PA/Kenai River (NAHL)) carried the puck into the zone and tucked it just inside the right post to give the Pioneers the early 1-0 advantage. Anthony McVeigh (Kemptville, Ontario/Carleton Place (CCHL)) made it 2-0 with a short-handed goal off an assist from Easton Powers (South Lyon, MI/Port Huron (NAHL)). The Pioneers had chances to make it 3-0, but the Statesmen killed off a 5-on-3 late in the period.

The middle period saw 13 penalties between the two teams. The lone goal of the second came with 6:31 on the clock, and cut the Hobart deficit to 2-1. This time it was the Statesmen's turn for a short-handed tally. Hobart killed a 5-on-3 and just as Sokol was exiting the penalty box he took a pass from junior Carl Belizario (Dorval, Quebec) for a one-on-one with UC goalie Michael Fredrick (Lethbridge, Alberta/Brooks Bandits (AJHL)). Sokol found the back of the net for his sixth goal of the season. Fredrick finished with 27 saves in 55:55 in goal for Utica.

Just 2:49 into the third period, senior Mac Olson (Grosse Pointe, Mich.) tied the game up at 3-3 with his 12th goal of the year. First-year Cam Shaheen (North Andover, Mass.) battled for the puck at the blue line and passed to sophomore Jordan Haskell who found Olson out in front. Just over two minutes later, senior Ben Gamache (Longlac, Ontario) registered what proved to be the game winner. He tallied his seventh of the year after passes from sophomore Vincent Russo (Jackson, N.J.) and senior Brad Robbins (Murrieta, Calif.). With 4:23 left in the third, junior sophomore Tyler Wolf (Napersville, Ill.) netted an insurance goal. His eighth of the season came off assists from junior Nick Bingaman (Paradise Valley, Ariz.) and Sokol.

With 4:05 remaining, Utica pulled its goalie for an extra skater, while also on the power play, but the Statesmen held off the Pioneers for the remainder. Neither team was able to capitalize on a power play. The Pioneers went 0-for-8, and Hobart finished 0-for-5. Utica finished with a 37-31 advantage in shots.