January 27, 2007

Conor Bradley scored two goals for the Statesmen. (Photo by Kevin Colton)

GENEVA, N.Y.—Neumann College sophomore Mike Hedden (St. Catherine’s, Ontario) tallied two goals and an assist to lead the visiting Knights past Hobart College, 4-3, in ECAC West ice hockey action today at The Cooler. The 10th-ranked Statesmen fall to 10-5-4 overall and 2-5-2 in league play, while sixth-ranked Neumann improves to 15-2-4 overall and 7-1-3 in the conference.

Senior Conor Bradley (West Hartford, Conn.) netted two goals for Hobart, while sophomore Kirk Golden (Vail, Colo.) recorded one as well.

The Knights struck first, with Hedden connecting for his first goal of the day at 8:25 in the first period, assisted by junior Neil Trimm (Westmeath, Ontario).

Hobart evened the game at 16:44, when Golden tallied after a scramble in front of the goal. First-year Blake Bonham (Toronto, Ontario) and senior Mike Manos (North Andover, Mass.) recorded the helpers. The goal was the first for the Statesmen in over 157 minutes of play.

Neumann took a 3-1 lead before the 10-minute mark in the second period, thanks to a power-play goal by Hedden and another score by junior Mike Gooch (Mantua, N.J.). Trimm assisted on both goals, while sophomores Kyle Casey (Stratford, Ontario) and Donavon Hall (Wishart, Sask.) also registered assists.

The Statesmen fought hard and cut the Knight’s lead to one at 14:15 in the second. Bradley recorded the goal, assisted by sophomore Andrew Brennan (Milford, Mass.) and first-year Aleksey Koval (Kiev, Ukraine). Hobart took the 3-2 deficit into the final intermission.

With just over five minutes left to play in the third period, Casey lit the lamp, assisted by Hedden, with what proved to be Neumann’s game-winner.

Bradley scored his second goal with just over three minutes to play, again cutting Hobart’s deficit to one. Sophomore Jason Merritt (Chapel Hill, N.C.) assisted on the goal. The Statesmen had a power play opportunity with 19 seconds remaining, but could not capitalize.

Sophomore goalkeeper Keith Longo (Hopedale, Mass.) recorded 25 saves for the Statesmen, while junior Mike Collichio (Rochester, N.Y.) stopped 32 for the Knights.

Hobart will be back on the ice on Feb. 2, when it hosts Lebanon Valley for an ECAC West contest at 7 p.m. in The Cooler.