Score: No. 9/10 Hobart College 3, Elmira College 2
Records: Hobart (11-2-3), Elmira (6-10-1)
Location: Skaneateles, N.Y. - W.G. Allyn Ice Arena

SKANEATELES, N.Y. -- A third-period goal from Hobart College's Bobby Sokol proved to be the difference on Saturday at the W.G. Allyn Ice Arena, as the Elmira College men's ice hockey team fell 3-2 to the No. 9/10-ranked Statesmen in a neutral site bout in Skaneateles, N.Y.

There were plenty of scoring chances in the first 20 minutes of action, as Elmira and Hobart combined for 35 shots on goal. The Statesmen would make the most of their 21-to-14 advantage with a goal at the 17:30 mark from Jonas Toupal. Toupal's shot came from the point right after an offensive zone faceoff win and ricocheted off of several Soaring Eagle defenders, before fluttering past a screened Sal Magliocco '17 for the score. 

The Toupal score would hold up through the end of the period, as Hobart took a 1-0 lead into the first intermission. Additionally, Elmira's Spencer Carter '20 was whistled for a cross-checking penalty with zeros on the clock, putting the Statesmen on the power play to start the second stanza.

EC opened the second period by denying Hobart on its power-play opportunity to keep it a one-goal game early in the middle frame. Then, at the 11:25 mark, the Soaring Eagles leveled the contest with a rocket from the point by Eddie Nolan '17 on a 5-on-3 power play.

Spencer MacLean '20 and Andrew Pucci '20 were credited with assists on Nolan's goal, as their passes found the senior captain alone on the left point, allowing him time and space to snipe the top right corner for the score.

However, the 1-1 tie only stood for 5:26, as the Statesmen cashed-in on a power-play chance of their own at the 16:51 mark. Julien Denicourt scored for Hobart with a slap shot from the right point, which weaved its way through several purple and white jerseys and into the back of the net. Denicourt was assisted by Tanner Shaw and Bo Webster, as the Statesmen marched into the final intermission with a slim 2-1 advantage.

Elmira refused to go away quietly in the third period, as second-year forward Mitch Atkins '19 scored a beauty on a two-on-one rush at the 6:07 mark. Following a Hobart turnover, Atkins and Kevin DiMagno '20 connected a pair of passes together, before Atkins used some nifty stick skills out in front of the Hobart cage, which led to the score.

A little over seven-and-a-half minutes passed until Hobart reclaimed its lead at the 13:44 mark of the third period. Sokol, who was sent to the penalty box just three minutes prior, atoned for his infraction by tallying the game-winner. Magliocco did all he could to stand his ground, as he made six saves in a row in a span of just over a minute prior to the goal. EC's senior goalie made the initial save with the blocker on a shot by Tyler Wolf, but Sokol was there to punch in the rebound.

Trailing by one inside the final minute, Elmira pulled Magliocco to skate 6-on-5 in the offensive zone. With the extra attacker, rookie forward Connor Powell '20 nearly sent the game into overtime, but his late attempt was just off target and rang off of the post. Fellow freshman Matthew Cuce '20 had one last shot before the final whistle, but Hobart netminder Alexander Connal corralled it to preserve the win.

Turning Point
In the second period, a pair of Hobart penalties had the Soaring Eagles skating on the power play for over three consecutive minutes, including a 43-second span with a 5-on-3 advantage. While Nolan found the back of the net with the two-man advantage to knot the game at 1-1, EC was unable to register another shot for the remaining 1:17 of the power play. Had the Purple and Gold cashed in twice during the extended power play, Elmira may have been able to walk away with another nationally-ranked win.

Inside Box Score

• The Statesmen outshot Elmira 49-to-33, including a 19-to-9 advantage in the third period.
• Both teams finished 1-for-4 on the power play.
• Hobart owned a dominating lead in faceoffs, as the Statesmen won 38-of-65 draws.
• Nolan and Atkins each scored once for EC.
• MacLean and Pucci were credited with assists on Nolan's power-play goal.
• DiMagno was given the lone assist on Atkins' tally.
• Magliocco made 46 saves between the pipes for the Soaring Eagles.
• Denicourt, Toupal, and Sokol each netted a goal for the Statesmen.
• Webster posted the only multi-point effort on the night with a pair of assists.
• Connal stopped 31 shots in net to earn the win.

News and Notes

• With the loss, EC's overall record fell to 6-10-1.
• The Soaring Eagles still own a commanding 58-25-2 lead in the all-time series against Hobart.
• Elmira is 1-2-1 against nationally-ranked opponents this season.
• Magliocco's 46 saves are a new single-game season-high.
• The senior goalkeeper has not stopped that many shots since a February 2015 matchup with the Statesmen, where he made a career-high 55 saves.
• Magliocco has 1,725 saves in his career, seventh-most in program history and only 57 behind Rob Ligas '02 for sixth place on Elmira's all-times saves leaders list.
• Both Nolan and Atkins have scored a goal in each of EC's last two games.
• DiMagno's assist is his first career point.
• MacLean's helper was the first assist of his freshman campaign.

Up Next
The Soaring Eagles return to ECAC West play, when they welcome Stevenson University to the Murray Athletic Center for a 7:00 p.m.showdown on Friday, January 27th.