November 5, 2003

GENEVA, N.Y.—Lebanon Valley College scored two goals in both the first and third periods to escape with a 4-3 victory over Hobart College this evening in men’s ice hockey action at the Geneva Recreation Complex. The Statesmen outshot the Dutchmen 37-23 for the game, including 13-5 in the second period.

Lebanon Valley (1-1-0) wasted no time getting in the scoring column, as Alexander Beatrice (Randolph, N.J.) got open on the left wing and beat Hobart (1-1-1) goaltender Adam Lavelle (Chelmsford, Mass.) on the short side just 30 seconds into the game. The Dutchmen would add another goal at the 8:09 mark when Jeffrey Smith (New Brunswick, Canada) knocked home a rebound.

Dominating much of the play in the second period, sophomore Edward Poirier (Methuen, Mass.) found the net four minutes in, pushing the puck past Dutchmen goalie Sonny Holding (Bowie, Md.) off assists from Mike Polsonetti (Lynn, Mass.) and R.C. Schmidt (Buxton, Maine). Hobart continued to pound the goal with 10 more shots, but Holding proved to be up to the task.

The final stanza proved to be an exciting one as the teams combined for four goals in 10 minutes. Lebanon Valley struck twice in the opening six minutes of the session to put the game seemingly out of reach at 4-1. The Statesmen battled back though and cut the lead to two off a Tyler Dufour (Whistler, British Columbia) goal with 7:30 remaining. Nearly three minutes later Poirier struck for the second time in the evening. Taking a pass from Schmidt, he beat a Lebanon Valley defenseman and slipped it past the outstretched pads of Holding. Hobart was able to create more dangerous scoring chances late in the period, but the puck just didn’t seem to be bouncing the right way, as the Statesmen ran out of time.

Lavelle had 19 stops in 58:05 minutes of action, while Holding went the distance, grabbing 34 stops.

Hobart hits the ice again on Nov. 8, hosting Humber College of Toronto, Canada at 4 p.m.