The sixth-ranked Hobart College hockey team defeated Nichols 3-0 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament tonight at The Cooler, marking the first shutout in postseason play for the Statesmen. Hobart improved to 20-6-2, tying the program record for wins in a season, while the Bison completed their season with a 25-4-0 overall record.
Senior goalkeeper
Keith Longo (Milford, Mass.) collected 35 saves for the Statesmen, including 18 in the second period, to earn his third shutout and 17th win of the season.
After a scoreless first period, Hobart senior defenseman
Ryan Adler (Piscataway, N.J.) gave the Statesmen a 1-0 lead eight minutes, 17 seconds into the second period. He snuck a shot through the legs of Nichols’ first-year goalie Jacob Rinn, notching the eventual game-winner. Junior forwards
Aleksey Koval (Kiev, Ukraine) and
Blake Bonham (Toronto, Ontario) set up the tally.
Junior forward
Gregory Alberti (Bernardsville, N.J.) increased the hosts’ lead to 2-0 with 2:17 left on the clock in the second stanza. He took a shot from the right side that ricocheted off the far post and into goal.
In the third period, senior defenseman
Bryant Harris (Plainfield, N.H.) slapped in the Statesmen’s third and final goal at the 8:21 mark. He was set up by junior defenseman
Jordan Zitoun (Irving, Texas) and sophomore forward
Patrick Moriarty (Lloyd Harbor, N.Y.).
Rinn finished with 34 saves for the Bison. Hobart held a slight 37-35 advantage in shots.
The Statesmen will travel to fourth-ranked Amherst (22-4-1) for the NCAA Tournament quarterfinal round on Sat., March 14, at a time to be determined. The Lord Jeffs defeated Babson 4-1 tonight to advance.