February 3, 2006

Garmen led the charge with three points as eighth-ranked Hobart defeated Lebanon Valley 6-4 this evening. (photo by Kevin Colton)

HERSHEY, PA.—Hobart College senior forward Matt Garman (Wexford, Pa.) led the charge with three points as the eighth-ranked Statesmen defeated a pesky Lebanon Valley squad 6-4 in ECAC West hockey action this evening at the Hersheypark Arena.

Garman registered assists on Hobart’s first two goals before netting the game-winner at the 10:03 mark of the second period to lead the Statesmen to a crucial conference win.

Hobart (14-5-0, 5-4-0 ECAC West) never trailed in the contest, as senior forward Brian Keane (Sherborn, Mass.) connected on a pair of goals, including one on the power play, in the span of 1:28 to stake the Statesmen to a 2-0 advantage at the 12:21 mark of the opening period.

Lebanon Valley (4-15-0, 0-9-0) answered with a pair of its own to enter the first intermission tied at 2.

Hobart regained its lead just 1:31 into the second stanza, when first-year defenseman Andrew Brennan (Milford, Mass.) drilled home his third tally of the season. Less than a minute later, sophomore forward Edward Brzek (Duxbury, Mass.) posted his first goal of the season to restore the Statesmen’s two-goal lead.

The hosts continued to claw back into the game, as they sandwiched a pair of goals around Garman’s decisive goal to take a 5-4 deficit into the final period.

In the third period, junior forward Conor Bradley (West Hartford, Conn.) sealed the victory with his team-leading 15th goal of the season. Hobart’s leading scorer ranks atop the nation with 11 power-play goals, and is one shy of the Statesmen’s single-season record.

In between the pipes, Hobart sophomore goaltender Trevor Pieri (Needham, Mass.) made 24 saves to collect his third victory of the season, while senior netminder Sonny Holding stopped 35 Statesmen offerings.

Hobart held a 41-28 advantage in shots and completed the contest 3-for-5 on the power play, while the Dutchmen went 1-for-5 with a man advantage.

Hobart returns to action at 3 p.m. on Feb. 4, when the Statesmen complete their weekend series with Lebanon Valley.