March 3, 2006

PURCHASE, N.Y.—Elmira College scored with just 1:28 remaining in regulation to edge Hobart College, 4-3, in the ECAC West Men’s Ice Hockey Tournament semifinals. Soaring Eagle junior forward Justin Joy (Norfolk, N.Y.) netted the game-winner and dished out two helpers to lead Elmira into the final.

Pacing the Statesmen with two points each were senior forward Ed Poirier (Methuen, Mass.) and senior defenseman Greg Gallagher (Framingham, Mass.).

Although sixth-ranked Hobart (19-7-0) dominated the first period—out shooting the Soaring Eagles, 15-10—Elmira (16-8-2) opened the scoring on the power play at the 10:48 mark. Junior forward Mark Mazzetti (Hamilton, Ontario) collected his eighth goal of the season off a feed from classmate Darcy Pettie (Kingston, Ontario).

Less than two minutes later, the Statesmen evened the contest at the 12:53 mark, when Poirier registered his ninth goal of the season, including his fourth on the power play.

Hobart took its only lead as senior forward Matt Garman (Wexford, Pa.) skated onto a pass from Gallagher, and broke in behind the Soaring Eagle defense. Showcasing some crafty stick skills, Garman deked out senior goaltender Greg Fargo (Kingston, Ontario) to take a 2-1 advantage into the first intermission. Fargo finished the game with 39 saves.

Elmira scored the lone marker of the second stanza to level the game at two, heading into the final frame.

In a wide open third period, which featured a combined 34 shots, both teams continued their back-and-forth affair. Sophomore forward Michael Richard (LaSalle, Quebec) put the Soaring Eagles ahead with a power-play goal at the 3:14 mark.

Facing a one-goal deficit, the resilient Statesmen turned up their offensive pressure. Their efforts were rewarded as sophomore forward Brian Cibelli (Liverpool, N.Y.) pounced on Poirier’s rebound and drilled home his fifth goal of the season to capitalize on a five-on-three man advantage.

Between the pipes, first-year netminder Keith Longo (Hopedale, Mass.) made a season-high 35 saves. Ranked 10th in the nation, Longo is the Hobart single-season goals against average record holder, posting an impressive 2.11 mark.

The Statesmen held a 42-39 advantage in shots, while scoring two power-play goals against Elmira’s 23rd-ranked penalty-kill unit.

Hobart will find out its NCAA Tournament fate on March 5, when the Division III field is announced.