Adam Lavelle '05

February 13, 2002

GENEVA, N.Y. - The Hobart College hockey team jumped out to a 3-0 lead over Utica College, held off a Pioneer comeback attempt, and wrapped up the final playoff spot in the ECAC West Tournament. Statesman first-year goaltender Adam Lavelle (Bridgton Academy/Chelmsford, Mass.) made 40 saves to win his ninth decision of the season and tie the Hobart single-season wins mark.

Tight defense held both teams to just six shots over the first 10 minutes of the contest. At the 10:18 mark first-year forward Andy Kasprczak (Groton/Farmington, Conn.) set up first-year forward Andy Herlihy (Tilton/Bow, N.H.) who banged home his fifth goal of the season after a scramble in front of the net for a 1-0 Hobart lead.

The Statesmen doubled the lead on the power play at the 2:18 mark of the second period as first-year forward Andy Boschetto (Tilton/Brookfield, Conn.) set up sophomore forward R.C. Schmidt's (Army/Buxton, Maine) ninth goal of the season. Seven minutes later sophomore defenseman Trevor Gowan (Shenendehowa/Ballston Lake, N.Y.) rang the crossbar with a shot from point to give Hobart a commanding 3-0 advantage with his third goal of the season. The Statesmen controlled the second period in both ends of the ice, outshooting the Pioneers 17-12 in the period and allowing few strong scoring chances.

Penalties allowed Utica to pick up its play in the third period. At the 5:06 mark, Pioneer first-year defenseman Jeff Mohney (Buffalo/Buffalo, N.Y.) cut the lead to 3-1 with a shot through a crowd on the power play. Two minutes later Utica first-year forward Jimmy Sokol (Omaha/Webberville, Mich.) wristed a high shot over Lavelle's right shoulder to cut the lead to one. The Pioneers continued to fire shots on goal, but Lavelle shut them out the rest of the way. With just over six minutes remaining, Levey set up first-year forward Jesse Desper's (Williston/W. Kennebunk, Maine) fifth goal of the year to close the scoring. Utica played the final 1:57 with an empty net, but couldn't get any closer.

Pioneer first-year goalie Jake Miskovic (Portage/River Forest, Ill.) made 26 saves in 58:03. Utica (9-12-3, 1-7-1 ECAC West) hit two posts and each team had a goal disallowed. With the win Lavelle ties Mike Silva '89 for the single-season wins record set during the 1988-89 campaign.

The Statesmen (9-14-0, 4-4-0 ECAC West) close out their home schedule against Manhattanville College (15-5-3, 4-4-1 ECAC West) on Feb. 16, at 4 p.m. Hobart is just one point behind the third-place Valiants in the ECAC West standings.