February 10, 2007

Dimitri Papaevagelou made 39 saves at Elmira. (Photo by Kevin Colton)

ELMIRA, N.Y.—The 12th-ranked Hobart College hockey team spoiled senior night for Elmira College, scoring early and often in a 7-2 ECAC West win. Goalie Dimitri Papaevagelou stymied the Soaring Eagles for more than 50 minutes and finished the night with 39 saves.

The Statesmen (12-6-5, 4-6-3) needed just 48 seconds to light the lamp when Mike McCarthy beat EC goalie Casey Tuttle (3 saves) to his left. Two minutes later, Shawn Houde scored his 11th goal of the season, assisted by Jason Merritt and Conor Bradley. Blake Bonham capped the first period scoring 24 seconds before the end of the frame on assists by Houde and Michael Steiner.

In addition to the scoring burst, Hobart’s penalty kill shared the spotlight. The Statesmen killed of a pair of penalties, limiting Elmira to just a single shot during the four minutes of man advantage.

Following the intermission, the Eagles changed goalies, sending Rapahel Cundari (13 saves) to guard the cage, but the second period started much the same way the first did. Set up by Marc Borden, McCarthy scored another quick goal, needing just 76 seconds to net his sixth score of the season.

The Soaring Eagles (11-9-3, 6-6-1) carried the play through the middle of the period, but struggled to solve Papaevagelou. He turned back all 15 offerings EC threw at him in the frame.

Hobart added another goal just before the end of the second period. Mike Polsonetti sent an up ice pass from his own goal line to a waiting Ted Brzek at the Elmira blue line. Brzek skated in on Cundari and lifted a shot over the netminder’s shoulder for a 5-0 lead.

Elmira finally broke through in the third period, when Nicolas Dumolin scored with seven minutes remaining. Unfazed, Jonathan Swift scored on an assist by McCarthy to get the goal back just 21 seconds later.

Just over a minute later, Elmira again cut its deficit to four on a power-play goal by Andrew Bedford, but Steiner finished a breakaway opportunity with four minutes to go in the game to close out the scoring.

Hobart is back on the ice on Feb. 16, when the Statesmen travel to Utica for another ECAC West contest. The opening faceoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.