GENEVA, N.Y.—Fifth-ranked Hobart College (2-0) defeated the SUNY Potsdam men's hockey team (0-1) 7-2 in the Bears' season opener. Freshman forward Nathan Hoehn (Highlands Ranch, Colo./Richmond Generals) scored his first career goal in his collegiate debut for Potsdam. Senior defenseman
Justin Vernace (Mississauga, Ontario/Brampton Admirals) also scored for the Bears.
The Statesmen, coming off a 5-2 win over No. 13 Oswego State last night, stayed hot during this afternoon's contest. They outshot the Bears 8-4 in the first period and broke through at the 18:25 mark. Matthew Iasenza buried a feed from Artem Buzoverya for the 1-0 advantage. Senior goalie
Connor Green (New Port Richey, Fla./Tampa Bay Juniors) stopped the other seven shots he faced in the opening 20 minutes.
Hobart started quickly in the second period. Jonah Alexander struck at 4:04 and Shane Shell made it a 3-0 contest at 7:53. Hoehn finally got the Bears on the board at 12:30. Graduate student forward
Michael McArthur (St. Thomas, Ontario/Oswego State) and sophomore defenseman
Carter Lennon (Kitchener, Ontario/Georgetown Raiders) each assisted on the play. Potsdam earned two power plays in the period, but were unable to close the gap any further in the middle stanza.
The Statesmen scored four times in the first 5:14 of the third period to put the game out of reach. Cooper Swift extended the lead back to three just 24 seconds in and Tanner Daniels followed with a marker at 1:32. Alexander notched his second at 3:13 and Brenden Howell scored at 5:14 to make it 7-1. Vernace netted his first of the season with an assist from junior
Jack Ludwig (Sylvania, Ohio/Chippewa Steel) to close the scoring at 7-2.
Green finished with 18 saves and six goals allowed in the first 43:13. Senior
Stephen Friedland (West Bloomfield, Mich./East Coast Wizards) allowed a goal and stopped eight shots in his Bears debut over the last 16:47. Mavrick Goyer made 19 saves to earn the win for Hobart.
The Bears open SUNYAC play on the road this Friday as they battle SUNY Cortland at 7 p.m.
