Box Score STAMFORD, Conn. – The 13th-ranked Manhattanville men's hockey team dug itself a four-goal deficit after one period and the mountain proved to be too much to climb as the Valiants fell to #5/4 Hobart, 4-3, in ECAC West Conference action on a snowy Friday afternoon at Terry Conners Rink.
 
Senior assistant captain Scott Hudson (St. Albert, Alta./Sherwood Park Crusaders (AJHL)) led the Valiants in a losing effort with a goal and an assist, moving into sixth place on the school's goals (40) and points (95) lists in the process. Classmate Jason Bowles (Elkhorn, Man./Waywayseecappo Wolverines (MJHL)) and fellow senior co-captain Brett Skalski (Exton, Pa./Des Moines Buccaneers (USHL)) also scored for the home team.
 
Brad McBride had a game-high two goals for Hobart, while Tommy Fiorentino led all players with three points thanks to a trio of helpers. Brendan Fitzgerald and Ryan Corcoran also scored for the Statesmen.
 
Unfortunately for the home team, a bad first period that featured four Hobart goals was simply too much to overcome against the nationally ranked Statesmen. Fitzgerald opened the scoring at the 6:56 mark with his first of the year, followed by Corcoran's third of the season less than four minutes later. McBride then followed with two goals in the final 3:16 of the opening frame, the latter of which was a power-play tally with 1:30 left in the period that made it 4-0 Hobart.
 
After a terrible first period, Manhattanville scored the final three goals of the game, but in the end it was not enough to complete the comeback.
 
The Valiants had an excellent second period, scoring two goals and coming within inches of getting another. Hudson got the home team on the board 8:54 into the middle frame, depositing the rebound of a shot by sophomore Rich Meyer (Port Monmouth, N.J./Boston Bulldogs (AtlJHL)) into the net for his team-best 11th tally of the year. With less than three minutes left in the period the Valiants capitalized on a four-on-three advantage to get back within two, as Bowles converted on a feed from classmate Brendan Turner (Tisdale, Sask./Lloydminster Bobcats (AJHL)).
 
Skalski almost made it a 4-3 game headed into the third period in the waning seconds of the frame, but his one-timer from the slot caromed off the inside of the post and across the crease before coming back out.
 
Manhattanville struck again on the power play at 7:35 of the third period, as Skalski finally got his goal thanks to a nice redirection in front of the Hobart net. Junior Adam Young (Edmonton, Alta./Grande Prairie Storm (AJHL)) took a shot from the point that Skalski tipped over the shoulder of Hobart netminder Nick Broadwater for his sixth goal of the season.
 
Despite their best efforts, the Valiants could get nothing more past Broadwater in the final minutes. Hobart finished the game with a slight 33-31 edge in shots.
 
After sophomore Brian Fleming (Saint John, N.B./Northern Cyclones (AJHL)) allowed all four goals on 12 shots in the opening frame, classmate Alex Scola (Exeter, N.H./Woodstock Slammers (MJHL)) provided some consistency in the crease over the final 40 minutes, stopping all 21 shots sent his way. Broadwater had a bit of an off night, but still earned the win by making 28 saves on 31 shots.
 
Manhattanville (12-8-2, 5-5-2 ECAC West) will return to conference action tomorrow afternoon, as the Valiants welcome Elmira for a 4 p.m. matchup at Terry Conners Rink. Fans can catch all the action on GoValiants.TV beginning at 3:50 p.m.