Box Score Boxscore

RYE, N.Y. – Hobart did not play the role of the obliging guests on Friday night at Playland Ice Casino, as the Statesmen spoiled the regular-season coaching debut of Valiant head men's hockey coach Eric Lang with a 4-0 victory over Manhattanville in an ECAC West Conference contest.

Four different players scored for the visitors, as Hobart scored twice in the first period and twice more in the third frame to secure its first win of the year. The scoring started with two quick goals less than three minutes apart in the opening frame, as Peter Ryan scored his first of the year at 4:09 and Bronson Kovacs followed at the 6:50 mark on the power play to put the visitors up by a pair after one period.

Manhattanville dominated play in the second period, taking 11 shots to Hobart's four, but the squad could not solve Hobart netminder Nick Broadwater and still went into the third period down by the same score. In the third, Hobart added two more on Ian Coleman's first of the season with 5:28 remaining and a power-play empty-netter from Frank Salituro with two minutes left on the clock.

Despite the goal differential, Manhattanville actually fired more shots toward goal, as the Valiants held a 30-29 edge in total shots. Broadwater stopped all 30 shots he faced to pick up the win, however, while senior Pierre-Olivier Lemieux (Rimouski, Que./Neepawa Natives (MJHL)) suffered the loss despite 25 saves on 28 shots he faced.

The Valiant power play had no juice in the losing effort, as Manhattanville went 0-for-9 with the man advantage, including almost three minutes of five-on-three action over the course of the game. Hobart scored twice on the power play on eight chances.

One area in which the Valiants did dominate was in the face-off circle, as Manhattanville boasted a huge 59-26 edge in draw wins. Senior co-captain Evan Michalchuk (Edmonton, Alta./Salmon Arm Silverbacks (BCHL)) led the way with 19 wins in 24 draw attempts, while junior Jason Bowles (Elkhorn, Man./Waywayseecappo Wolverines (MJHL)) won 15-of-18 draws and junior assistant captain Ron Smith (North Delta, B.C./Nanaimo Clippers (BCHL)) won 14 of his 20 face-offs.

Manhattanville (0-1-0, 0-1-0 ECAC West) will have little time to regroup following the loss, as the Valiants return to Playland Ice Casino tomorrow night for a 7 p.m. matchup with USCHO #6 Elmira, with the live GoValiants.TV broadcast beginning at 6:50 p.m. Hobart (1-1-0, 1-0-0 ECAC West) will take on non-conference Salve Regina tomorrow night also at 7 p.m.