Southern Maine Falls at #5 Hobart 5-3

            GENEVA, N.Y. -- The fifth-ranked Hobart College Statesmen scored four goals in the second period to erase a one-goal deficit and went on to earn a 5-3 victory over the visiting University of Southern Maine Huskies in New England Hockey Conference men's action Friday night at The Cooler.

            The win was the third straight for the Statesmen, and improved their record to 15-4-3 overall and 9-4-2 in NEHC play.  The Statemen are 9-1-2 since losing a 3-2 overtime decision to the Huskies at USM on December 7.  The Huskies had their two-game winning streak stopped to fall to 7-13-3 overall and 6-8-2 in conference play.

            Southern Maine built a 2-1 lead in the opening 20 minutes on goals from sophomore Derek Tillotson (Bow, N.H.) and senior Ethan Bassile (Scarborough, Maine).  Tillotson tallied his fifth goal of the season after assists from senior Johnny Kyte (Carp, Ontario) and sophomore Adam Withers (Kenora, Ontario) at 1:35.  Bassile broke a 1-1 tie with his fifth goal, an unassisted marker, at 17:50.

            Junior Travis Schneider (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.) had the Statesmen goal in the first period at 10:55.

            In the middle period, Hobart tied the game at 2-2 with a power-play goal from senior Zach Sternbach (Loudonville, N.Y.) at 3:32.  Shortly thereafter, the Huskies went on the power play, but it would be the Statesmen who would score.  Sophomore Zach Tyson (Dublin, Ohio) tallied a short-handed goal off an assist from junior Mike Faulkner (Bronx, N.Y.) at 5:32 to put Hobart ahead for good.  Faulkner would finish the game with three assists.

            Two minor penalties on the Huskies gave the Statesmen a 5-on-3 advantage, and they needed just 10 seconds to convert.  Sophomore Aaron Maguyon (Margate City, N.J.) tallied what proved to be the game-winning goal at 7:10, converting from Faulkner and junior TJ Schultz (Evanston, Ill.).

            Senior  Will Harrison (Springfield, Va.) added an unassisted goal at 14:31 to cap the Statemen's four-goal outburst.

            Southern Maine scored the lone goal of the third period to close the gap.  Junior Maverick Lynes (Sherwood Park, Alberta) found the net for his team-leading eighth goal of the season off an assist from sophomore Michael Green (Baie d'Urfã, Quebec) at 15:35.

            Sophomore goalie Joe Halstrom (Fort Collins, Colo.) earned his 12th win of the season making 24 saves in the Statesmen net.  USM senior Paul Léger (Blainville, Quebec) stopped 41 shots at the other end.  Hobart compiled a 46-27 advantage in shots on goal and was able to convert on 2 of 8 power-play opportunities.  Southern Maine was 0 for 6 with the man advantage.

            The Huskies return to action tomorrow afternoon (4 p.m.) traveling to Skidmore College.  Hobart will host New England College on Saturday (4 p.m.).

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