#1 Statesmen tame Wildcats 5-2

The top-ranked Hobart hockey team scored three third-period goals as it defeated Johnson & Wales 5-2 in a New England Hockey Conference contest at the New England Sports Village this evening. With the win, the Statesmen are now 19-2-1 overall this season with a 13-1-1 mark in NEHC play.

Sophomore forwards Ignat Belov (2g, 1a) and Tanner Hartman (1g, 2a) led the way for Hobart, recording three points each. Three other Statesmen had multi-point games. Sophomore Mavrick Goyer played all 60 minutes in goal and made 14 saves.

Hayden Haldane and Brad Cook scored for the Wildcats (5-15-2, 2-12-1). Jaxon Friedman finished the game with 36 saves.

KEY STATS

• Hobart finished the game with a 41-16 advantage in shots on goal.
• Neither team scored on the power play. The Statesmen were 0-for-2 and Johnson & Wales were 0-for-3 with the man advantage.
• Opponents are 1-for-69 on the power play against Hobart this season.

STREAKING

• This evening’s victory extended Hobart’s unbeaten streak to 16 games. Hobart is 15-0-1 since losing to Babson.
• The Statesmen have won five straight games.

SCORING SUMMARY

• Hobart opened the scoring at the 8:47 mark of the first period. Hartman collected a rebound and flipped the loose puck past the goalie. His 14th goal of the season was assisted by Belov and senior Artem Buzoverya.
• Ten minutes later, Matthew Iasenza netted his first goal of the season. He poked a loose puck past Friedman. Wil Crane and Conor Lally recorded an assist on the goal. Iasenza was the 24th different Statesman to record a goal this season.
• The Wildcats broke up the shutout bid on Haldane’s second goal of the season. He forced a turnover and slapped a shot past Goyer.
• Belov put the game out of reach with a pair of goals in the first three minutes of the final stanza. His 13th goal of the season came 30 seconds into the frame and was assisted by Hartman and Buzoverya.  
• Two minutes later he pocketed his 14th goal of the year. Hartman and Matthieu Wuth were credited with…