February 28, 2004

BROOKLANDVILLE, Md.—The Hobart lacrosse team took a 3-1 lead early in its season opener with Butler on Feb. 28, but the Bulldogs made the Statesmen wait more than 38 minutes for their next goal in a 7-6 Butler win at St. Paul’s School. Attackman Mark Williamson led all scorers with three goals.

The Bulldogs opened the scoring midway through the first quarter, but Hobart responded less than a minute later when midfielder Chris Scanlon fired home an unassisted score. Midfielder John Soden won the ensuing faceoff and, 22 seconds later, attackman Nate Hill set up Williamson’s first score.

Soden was outstanding in his Hobart debut, winning 12-of-16 faceoffs and collecting five ground balls.

The Statesmen got off to a fast start in the second quarter, waiting just 44 seconds for Williamson’s second score, but then Hobart’s scoring dried up, although not for a lack of opportunities. The Statesmen outshot Butler 22-9 in the first half, but the Bulldogs keeper was up to the task, posting seven first half stops.

Butler scored just 11 seconds before the half to trim Hobart’s lead to just a single goal, 3-2. The Bulldog offense came to life in the third quarter, outshooting the Statesmen 12-10 while netting four unanswered goals to take a 6-3 lead into the final frame.

Butler completed a 6-0 run midway through the fourth quarter, but the 7-3 deficit awoke the sleeping Hobart attack.

Hill kick-started the ill-fated comeback with his first goal of the campaign at the 5:53 mark. Two minutes later, midfielder Nate Molinari fed Williamson, who completed his hat trick and pulled Hobart within two, 7-5.

Near the three-minute mark, Williamson put another in the Butler net and appeared to get Hobart into a one-goal game, but the score was waved off for a crease violation.

At the 2:02 mark, Hobart did make it a one-goal game, this time on attackman Mike Conklin’s goal. Looking to force overtime, the Statesmen took three shots down the stretch: the first sailed wide, the second was stopped by a spectacular diving save and the third hit the post.

Dan Valente made 10 saves in his first collegiate start. Hill and defenseman Greg McCarthy collected a game-high six ground balls apiece, helping Hobart to a 48-30 advantage.

Hobart opens its final Patriot League loop when it returns to action at 1 p.m., on March 6, at Holy Cross.