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Swift leads Hobart to 5-4
upset of RIT
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Jonathan Swift netted the game-tying and game-winning
goals in Hobart's 5-4 upset of 10th-ranked RIT. |
February 21, 2004
GENEVA, N.Y.—Hobart College first-year Jonathan Swift (Andover, Mass.)
scored two goals in the final five minutes to lead the Statesmen hockey
team to a 5-4 upset victory over 10th-ranked RIT in front of an electric
crowd at the Geneva Recreation Complex this evening. Playing in their
final regular season home game, seniors Trevor Gowan (Ballston Lake, N.Y.),
Carl Michaelson (Hudson, Quebec), and R.C. Schmidt (Buxton, Maine) earned
their first career victory over the Tigers and Hobart’s first since
1992.
“It’s unbelievable,” Michaelson said. “From where we started four years ago when Coach Taylor came in, he turned it all around. Year after year we’ve been building up to this. It’s a great feeling.”
RIT (12-6-5, 6-2-2 ECAC West) wasted little time as sophomore Darren Doherty (Duoro, Ontario) converted on a Brad Harris (Portage La Prairie, Manitoba) pass just 57 seconds into the game to give the Tigers the 1-0 lead.
After weathering some heavy pressure from the Tigers in the ensuing minutes, Hobart junior Craig Levey (Mississauga, Ontario) found sophomore Colby McVey (Chicago, Ill.) with a perfect centering pass to tie the game at one at the 13:03 mark. Just over three minutes later sophomore Edward Poirier (Methuen, Mass.) gave Hobart (13-7-5, 7-2-1 ECAC West) a 2-1 advantage with a perfect shot over the shoulder of RIT goaltender George Eliopoulos (Markham, Ontario).
After a scoreless second period, sophomore Lee Carrier (Ballston Lake, N.Y.) made it a two goal game with a short-handed goal just two minutes into the final period.
Down 3-1, the Tigers turned up their play and tied the game up with a pair of goals by Harris and senior Matt Moore (Burlington, Ontario) within 22 seconds of each other. Seven minutes later, junior forward Brian Payant (Antioch, Ill.) put the Tigers ahead again with a shot over the shoulder of junior goaltender Adam Lavelle (Chelmsford, Mass.).
Needing the win to stay in the hunt for the regular season crown and top seed in the ECAC West tourney, Hobart continued to pressure the RIT defense. Swift tied the game at four with five minutes left to play, putting back a rebound. Two minutes later the rookie winger gave the Statesmen the victory with a power-play score on a pass from Poirier.
“I was following up the play and I think the two defensemen kind of forgot about me,” Swift said. “Eddie made a nice pass to me and I was able to lift it into the upper left corner.”
The Statesmen penalty kill was spectacular, holding RIT scoreless on five power-play chances. The Tigers held a 40-32 advantage on shots for the game.
Lavelle was outstanding again in goal for Hobart, making 36 saves, including 14 in the first period, while Eliopoulos had 27 stops.
The Statesmen will resume play again in the ECAC West Tournament on March 5-6. Hobart will grab the top seed and play the fourth seed if Manhattanville loses or ties its game with Elmira this evening. A win by the Valiants will give them the right to host and the Statesmen the second seed, resulting in a rematch with the Tigers on March 5.