January 20, 2006

GENEVA, N.Y.—The seventh-ranked Hobart College ice hockey team suffered a tough 2-1 conference loss to third-ranked Manhattanville this evening in front of a capacity crowd at the Geneva Recreation Complex. The Valiants improved their overall record to 14-1-0 and 5-0-0 in the ECAC West, while the Statesmen fell to 12-4-0 and evened their conference mark at 3-3-0.

Hobart first-year goaltender Keith Longo (Hopedale, Mass.) kept the contest scoreless in the opening minutes of the second period as he stoned Manhattanville senior forward Dan Law (Quesnel, B.C.) on two quality scoring chances, including a breakaway. The Valiants finally broke threw at the 6:18 mark, when junior forward Scott Goheen (Innisfil, Ont.) lifted his own rebound over Longo’s right shoulder to take an one-goal advantage into the second intermission.

Manhattanville extended its lead just 1:28 into the final period, when senior forward Billy Foulds (Nipigon, Ont.) one-timed a shot past Longo from point-blank range. Classmate Tyler Resch (Medicine Hat, Alta.) generated the scoring opportunity with a feed from behind the net.

The Statesmen, with an extra attacker on the ice, gave the home crowd a reason to cheer, when senior forward Ed Poirier (Methuen, Mass.) netted his sixth goal of the season with 17 seconds remaining. Classmate Greg Gallagher (Framingham, Mass.) set up Hobart’s scoring opportunity by unloading a slapshot from the point. The Statesmen were unable to complete the comeback as the Valiants cleared the puck out of their defensive zone as time elapsed.

Manhattanville junior netminder Andrew Gallant (Summerside, P.E.I.) made 22 saves, while Longo stopped a season-high 36 shots.

Both teams were perfect on the penalty kill, with the Valiants’ eliminating nine to the Statesmen eight.

Hobart and Manhattanville will complete its weekend series at 4 p.m. on Jan. 21.