Keith Longo

March 11, 2006

NORTHFIELD, Vt.—The Hobart hockey team defeated Norwich University 3-1 in an NCAA Division III Tournament quarterfinal game at Kreitzberg Arena. First-year goalie Keith Longo (Hopedale, Mass.) made a season-high 38 saves to lead the Statesmen to their first NCAA tournament win.

Hobart (20-7-0) got off to a fast start, going into the first intermission with a 2-0 lead. Senior forward Colby McVey (Chicago, Ill.) was the first to light the lamp, scoring at the 5:58 mark off assists from senior forward Will Brame (West Hartford, Conn.) and junior forward Mike McCarthy (Medfield, Mass.). Senior forward Ed Poirier (Methuen, Mass.) made it a 2-0 game less than five minutes later, finishing a feed from senior defenseman Greg Gallagher (Framingham, Mass.).

In the second period, the Statesmen were whistled for 11 minutes in the penalty box and the short-handed time caught up with them at the 8:24 mark. Ryan Cleaver scored his team-leading 28th goal of the season off assists from Eric Lauriault and CJ Viso. The Cadets fought for more, but Longo was a rock in goal, turning back 18 offerings.

In the third period, junior Conor Bradley (West Hartford, Conn.) gave Hobart some breathing room with his team-leading 18th goal of the year. Poirier and junior forward Jonathan Swift (Andover, Mass.) earned the assists.

In the waning stages of the third period, Norwich (22-5-2) played nearly three minutes with an empty net but the Cadets could not solve Longo.

Norwich outshot Hobart 39-19, but struggled to find the back of the net, scoring just once on nine power-play opportunities.

The Statesmen reach the 20-win plateau for the first time in the program’s history.

Hobart will face St. Norbert on March 18 at First Arena in Elmira, N.Y. Faceoff is scheduled for 12:30 p.m.