Thoroughbreds take Round 1; 3-2 over #11 Hobart

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.—Freshmen scored three goals and goalie Brandon Kasel had 19 of his 40 saves in the third period as the Skidmore College hockey team held off #11 Hobart College for a 3-2 win in a New England Hockey Conference contest Friday night at the Saratoga Springs City Rink. The teams will do it again Saturday at 4 p.m. in Geneva. The win moves the Thoroughbreds into a tie for third in the NEHC with a 10-6-2 overall and 6-3-2 league record. The Statesmen drop to sixth place with at 12-6 overall and 6-5 NEHC. Hobart wasted no time taking advantage of the game's first power play. Aaron Maguyon scored off the faceoff from Travis Schneider 12 seconds into the power play for a 1-0 lead at 5:15 of the first period. Callahan Johnson tied it shortly after, beating Statesmen goalie Alexander Connal high glove side at 6:34. Mike Gelatt and Reid Russell assisted. Austin Rook put Skidmore in front with his fifth goal of the season at 15:38. His shot found its way past Connal the same way, glove side high. Will Steele and Corey Morgan earned the helpers. Avery Steele made it 3-1 with a power-play goal from Brandon Borges and Russell at 10:28 of the second period. Hobart took advantage of a too many men penalty to cut it to 3-2 when Will Harrsion redirected Matt Pizzo's shot at 15:02. There was no scoring, but plenty of action in the third period. The Statesmen killed a 5:00 major, holding Skidmore to only one shot, while creating a pair of short-handed opportunities that Kasel stopped. With the goalie out, Hobart pressured the Thoroughbreds in the final minute. Zach Tyson had a point blank shot with 24.8 seconds that appeared headed in, but Kasel made a quick glove save to preserve the win. The Statesmen outshot Skidmore 42-18. Kasel finished with 40 saves to improve to 7-4-1. Connal had seven saves over the first 30:28, while Liam Lascelle stopped all eight shots he faced in relief.