February 11, 2006

Jason Merritt

GENEVA, N.Y.—Hobart College first-year forward Jason Merritt (Chapel Hill, N.C.) scored the game-winning goal at the 17:31 mark of the third period to lead the seventh-ranked Statesmen past Utica 5-4 this afternoon in ECAC West hockey action at the Geneva Recreation Complex. Hobart raises its overall record to 17-5-0 and 8-4-0 in conference play, while the Pioneers fall to 10-8-3 and 5-4-2.

The first period was a fairly evenly played affair, with both teams scoring an even-strength goal. Utica struck first, just four minutes in, on first-year forward Colin Kingston’s (Vail, Colo.) sixth goal of the season. Junior forward Jonathan Swift (Andover, Mass.) netted the equalizer at the 5:58 to take a 1-1 tie into the first intermission.

The Pioneers regained their lead just four minutes into the second stanza, when Kingston registered a power-play tally. Hobart quickly responded when senior forward Greg Gallagher (Framingham, Mass.) collected his fifth goal of the season at the 9:43 mark.

Senior defenseman Will Bodine (North Massapequa, N.Y.) gave the Statesmen their first lead of the game, when he beat sophomore goaltender Adam Dekker (Muskegon, Mich.) glove side. Exactly one minute later, first-year defenseman Tiger Marcotte (L’Anse, Mich.) leveled the contest with his second goal of the season.

Hobart regained its lead just 43 seconds into the final frame, when senior forward Ed Poirier (Methuen, Mass.) knocked in a power-play goal off Gallagher’s rebound. The Statesmen extended their advantage, when junior forward Adam Scott (Manchester, Mass.) placed a precise pass from the left boards onto Merritt’s stick for the decisive goal.

The visitors, with an extra-attacker, rounded out the scoring at the 18:57 mark.

Between the pipes, sophomore goaltender Dimitri Papaevagelou (Windham, N.H.) stopped 30 shots, his second-highest total of the season, to earn his fourth win, while Dekker turned aside 29 Statesmen offerings.

Hobart returns to action at 4 p.m. on Feb. 18, when the Statesmen host the Soaring Eagles of Elmira (12-8-2, 5-6-1).