NEHC Tournament Semifinal
No. 3 Men's Ice Hockey at No. 2 Hobart
Saturday, February 24—7 p.m.
The Cooler—Geneva, N.Y.
THE SERIES
Babson and Hobart will meet for the fourth time this season and 16th time overall on Saturday night in a series that dates back to the 1987-88 season. The Beavers are 10-2-3 all-time against the Statesmen and have gone 1-0-2 in three matchups this winter.
POSTSEASON HISTORY
Babson and Hobart will meet in the postseason for the first time on Saturday night with a berth in the NEHC Tournament final on the line.
LAST MEETING
Senior Bobby Hall scored the game-tying goal at 12:24 of the third period as Babson and Hobart skated to a 3-3 OT tie on February 2 in Geneva, N.Y. Classmate Ryan Gouveia and sophomore Ryan McDougall also scored for the Beavers, who trailed 2-0 after the opening period. Sophomore Lawson MacDougall finished with a goal and an assist for the Statesmen.
LAST BABSON WIN
Gouveia scored at 13:35 of the third period as Babson defeated Hobart, 4-3, on January 12 in Geneva. First-years Nick Rosa and Christian Faggas staked the Beavers to a 2-0 first-period lead before the Statesmen rallied to go in front on senior Vincent Russo's second goal of the game 4:28 into the third. Hall also scored for the Green and White.
LAST HOBART WIN
Bobby Sokol scored twice in the third period as the Statesmen used three unanswered goals in the third period to edge Babson, 3-1, on October 28, 2016, in Geneva. Gouveia scored early in the second period and junior Matt Pompa made 39 saves for the Beavers, who led 1-0 midway through the third.
SCOUTING THE STATESMEN
Second-seeded Hobart (16-5-5), which is ranked ninth in the USCHO.com poll and 10th by D3hockey.com, advanced to the semifinals with an 8-0 victory over seventh-seeded Southern Maine last Saturday. Junior Zach Sternbach and first-year Ryan Lynch had two goals apiece, while junior Matt Pizzo and sophomore Julien Denicourt combined for five assists as the Statesmen extended its unbeaten streak to nine. Junior Jonas Toupal (14-15-29) ranks fifth in the league in scoring, MacDougall (4-18-22) is fourth in the conference in assists and Sternbach (12-7-19) has scored five goals over the last five games. Senior Frank Oplinger and sophomore Alexander Connal have combined to post a 1.87 goals against average and a .922 save percentage with four shutouts this winter. Hobart ranks 13th in Division III in scoring offense (3.88 goals) and sixth in scoring defense (1.86).
SCOUTING THE BEAVERS
Third-seeded Babson (15-8-3) advanced to the conference semifinals for the sixth year in a row with a 3-2 double-overtime victory over sixth-seeded Skidmore last Saturday. Senior Zach Phelps tied the game 8:30 into the third period and junior Matt Brazel notched the game-winning goal at 10:26 of the second OT to end the Beavers' longest game since 1986. Senior Matt McMorrow (8-16-24) is sixth in the NEHC in points and assists, Gouveia (12-9-21) has scored four times on the power play and ranks fifth in the league in goals, and Hall (11-10-21) has produced 10 points over the last eight contests. Pompa and fellow junior Bryan Botcher have combined to post a 2.08 goals against average and a .929 save percentage to go along with three shutouts on the year. The Green and White ranks 32nd in the country in scoring offense (3.19 goals) and 23rd in scoring defense (2.42).
RELYING ON THE ELDER STATESMEN
Gouveia (4-0-4), Hall (2-1-3) and fellow seniors Rob Devaney (2-3-5) and Charlie Ackerman (2-3-5) have combined for seven goals and 10 assists in six games over the last three seasons against Hobart.
SIX EARN NEHC RECOGNITION
The Beavers had a league-high six players recognized when the conference announced the first of its postseason honors prior to the start of the playoffs on February 15. Gouveia, McMorrow, Pompa and senior Joe DePietto were all named to the All-NEHC second team, Hall earned a third-team selection, and Rosa garnered an all-rookie team nod.
BRAZEL AND POMPA IN THE NEWS
Following his goal to end Babson's quarterfinal marathon against Skidmore, Brazel was named to the D3hockey.com Team of the Week on Wednesday. Pompa, who made 43 saves against the Thoroughbreds, was one of 22 players selected as semifinalists for the Joe Concannon Award on Tuesday. The award, which has been given out since 2001, honors the top American-born Division II or III player competing in New England.
POSTSEASON PRODUCTION
Brazel has two goals and seven assists for nine points in six career playoff games, while Devaney (4-4-8) and McMorrow (1-6-7) have combined for five goals and 10 assists in their nine league tournament contests. Junior Tommy Munichiello, who scored the opening goal against Skidmore, and Ackerman, lead all current Babson players with two power play tallies apiece.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
The Beavers are 12-0-1 this season when allowing two goals or less.
