Non-Conference roundup 12/7/13

It was an exciting day in conference action (recap here) yesterday, but Trinity and Wesleyan had out-of-conference games against the widly regarded ECAC-West as well. They both won to improve the NESCAC OOC record to 16-8-2.

Hobart Statesman (2-3-4)           2  
Wesleyan Cardinals (5-2-1)     6

It was over when...: Wesleyan freshman Elliot Vorel (F, '17) completed his hat trick in the second period to put the Cardinals up 4-1. It was the first career hat-trick for Vorel, who leads the D-III nation in points (10-9-19) and points per game (2.39). The Boonton Township,NJ native now has at least a point in all eight games to start his college career.

Cardinals rookie netminder Dawson Sprigings (G, '17) had 33 saves to improve to 2-1-1 on the season. Hobart sophomore Lino Chimenti (G, '16) made only four saves in the loss, as he was replaced after giving up three first period goals in favor of freshman Tim Keegan (G, '17). Keegan gave up three goals on sixteen Wesleyan shots in two periods. In all, the Statesman outshot the Cardinals, 35-23.

After losing ten players to graduation, Hobart isn't the same team that went 19-5-2 last season and got snubbed from the NCAA Tournament. Still, this is a solid out-of-conference win for Wesleyan. Hobart has faced stiffed competition this season and their only losses came in one-goal decisions to Utica and Geneseo. Entering the matchup with Wesleyan, the Statesmen were ranked 21st out of 79 D-II/III teams in the D3Hockey.com computer rankings.


Wesleyan drops to eight in the NESCAC points standings, but they are only one point behind Bowdoin/Colby/Hamilton for fifth, and the Cardinals have played two less games. The Cardinals next play the weekend of January 4th/5th with home games against New England college and SUNY Canton. That weekend concludes the Cardinals OOC schedule after six straight non-conference games.

Player of the game: Elliot Vorel (F, '17) 'Nuff said.

Box Score: Wesleyan 6/ Hobart 2      Wesleyan Recap 



Trinity Bantams (6-2-0)                             6
Manhattanville Valiants (6-5-0)                    3

It was over when...: Mike Hawkrigg (F, '16) completed his second period hat-trick at 17:50 to put the Bantams up 5-2 heading into the final frame. Hawkrigg's first goal came at 5:42 to tie the game at two. The reigning NESCAC Player of the Week now sits tied for fourth in the country with seventeen points (5-12-17) and in sole possession of second of points per game (2.12) behind only Wesleyan's Vorel. This was Hawkrigg's first
career hat-trick.

Freshman Sean Orlando (F, '17) assisted on two of Hawkrigg's goals as well as adding a helper on another and putting in an empty netter himself for his team high seventh goal for the season and a game high four points (1-3-4).

Ben Coulthard (G, '14) made 31 saves in his return to net after sophomore protege Nathaniel Heilbron (G, '16) started the last three OOC games. Valiants goalie Alex Scola (G, '15) saved 28 of 34 Bantams shots in the loss. In the previous two games, Scola shut out both Tufts and Conn College, making 54 saves in total.

Trinity rebounds from a less than impressive 2-0 loss to weak D-II Stonehill on Thursday. The Bantams might be the biggest winners of this weekend's conference action despite not playing, as they retain their fourth place status. They are one point behind Middlebury for third with two less games in tow.

Trinity returns to action on January 3rd in Beantown against Becker and then at home the next day against New England College. They return to conference action just three days later on January 7th against Williams under the lights at Frozen Fenway in a rematch of one of last season's NESCAC Semfinals, which the Ephs won, 4-2.

Player of the game: Mike Hawkrigg (F, '16) The Toronto, Onatario native is usually the one doing the distributing but today he was the one on the receiving end of the assists. First career hat-trick. 'Nuff said.

Box Score: Trinity 6/ Manhattanville 3      Trinity Recap