Ricky Klotz

October 7, 2003

GENEVA, N.Y.—Hobart College scored three goals in the opening 45 minutes on its way to a 3-1 victory over St. John Fisher in men’s non-conference soccer action this evening on Cozzens Field. The Statesmen received goals from three different players to earn their fifth win in six games.

After barely missing three good scoring chances in the opening 10 minutes, sophomore Eduardo Ponce de Leon (Northfield-Mt. Hermon/Puebla, Mexico) converted for the Statesmen (8-4), taking a give-and-go from junior Ricky Klotz (Homer/Cortland, N.Y.) and slipping it past the Cardinal goalie in the 12th minute. Just under five minutes later Klotz dribbled past a St. John Fisher (6-5-1) defender and beat keeper Tim Bergstresser (Marcus Whitman/Aloquin, N.Y.) to give Hobart a 2-0 lead.

The scoring continued in the 34th minute when senior Justin Dell (Naugatuck/Naugatuck, Conn.) intercepted a pass back to Hobart keeper Carl Fried (Nacka Gymnasium/Alta Sweden) and tapped it in the net, cutting the lead to one. The Statesmen jumped back ahead by two as John Rosenbaum (Ostra Reals Gymnasium/Solna, Sweden) headed Matt Vesonder’s (Mountain Lakes/Boonton Township, N.J.) cross back across the goal where Valentin Meloty-Kapella (Northfield-Mt. Hermon/Palo Alto, Calif.) touched it home.

Those three goals would be all Hobart would need as they played stifling defense in the second half. The Statesmen outshot the Cardinals 17 to 12 for the game, holding a five to two edge in corner kicks.

Fried went the distance for Hobart, making one stop, while Fisher’s Bergstresser had five saves in 90 minutes of action.

The Statesmen resume conference play on Oct. 10, when they travel to Clarkson University. Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m.