February 14, 2003

GENEVA, N.Y—Hobart College scored three power-play goals, but was unable to get past visiting Utica College this evening, tying 4-4 in ECAC West ice hockey action. The Statesmen are now 13-8-2 overall and 3-4-1 in the conference, while the Pioneers stand at 9-10-1 and 1-3-1 in ECAC West play.

Utica went ahead 1-0 just five minutes into the first period when Trent Flory (Morrow, Ohio) got loose and slipped the puck into the upper-right corner of the net past Hobart goalie Adam Lavelle (Chelmsford, Mass.). Midway through the session Flory doubled the score with an almost identical goal. Four minutes later senior Chris Thornton (Oyster Bay, N.Y.) notched his eighth goal of the year off a pass from Carl Michaelson (Hudson, Quebec) to cut the Pioneers’ lead in half.

Utica answered at the seven-minute mark in the second stanza increasing its lead to two again on a Brian Bansner (Fulton, N.Y.) goal. After that the goals began to fly as the two teams combined for three scores in only two minutes. William Brame (West Hartford, Conn.) and Stephen Mitacek (Wantagh, N.Y.) hooked up for a goal making the score 3-2. The Pioneers’ Flory responded only 46 seconds later with his third goal of the game to give Utica a two-goal edge once again.

Holding a two-man advantage on the ice, sophomore forward Craig Levey (Mississauga, Ontario) netted Hobart’s third power-play goal of the game to pull the Statesmen within one. Just seven seconds into its ninth extra-man opportunity Will Bodine (North Massapequa, N.Y.) tied the game at four, forcing Hobart into its third overtime game of the season.

Neither team got any shots off in the extra five minutes resulting in both teams receiving a point at the end of the night.

Lavelle went the distance, grabbing 11 saves, while Utica goaltender Mike Beacham (Canton, Mass.) made 21 stops in 65 minutes of action.

The Statesmen are back in action on Feb. 15, when they host Elmira College at 4 p.m.