HARTFORD, N.Y. (WETM) – The Statesman is back in search of another title.
A battle of the top two teams in the nation in NCAA D-III men's hockey continued as No. 1 Hobart defeated No. 2 Utica 3-1 in the NCAA semifinals on Thursday. With the win, Hobart advances to the NCAA Championships, which will be held in Hartford, Conn., on Saturday night at 7 p.m.
Hobart (27-2-1) will seek the national title Saturday night. In the final, the Statesmen will face team #3 Trinity, which defeated Elmira College 2-0 in the NCAA quarterfinals last weekend. In the other semifinal Thursday night, Trinity (25-3-1) defeated Adrian College 2-1.
Hobart, currently unbeaten in 24 games (23-0-1 since losing to Babson in November), scored twice in the first period to take a commanding 2-0 lead. Senior Austin Maurer lit up Hobart with a goal just 52 seconds into the game. Tanner Hartman then scored at 7:25 of the first period, and his goal was the game-winner.
The Statesmen added a scoreless net goal by Shane Shell late in the third period. Mike Herara scored Utica (24-3-3)'s only goal at 9:55 of the second period.
Hobart defeated Elmira College this season, both times in January, 7-2 and 5-0. The Statesmen defeated Adrian 3-2 in overtime last season to win the first national hockey title in school history.
(Photo: Hobart Athletics – Kevin Colton)
