#2 Hobart defeats #6 Geneseo 2-1 to advance to their 3rd-straight title game!

We’re here in Utica, NY for the 2025 NCAA Men’s Frozen Four, the first game of the day (3pm ET) is between #2 Hobart & #6 Geneseo, read our preview of the game HERE.

1st Period

Early on in the period, Geneseo was on it’s heels, but on a counter attack they rang one off the right post.

The attack from Hobart began and would continue for most of the period to come. #29 Kahlil Fontana misses the net on a clear shot opportunity. In the following minutes, #18 Austin Mourar was unable to connect on a backhand opportunity, causing mayhem in front of the net.

Hobart Penalty – #26 Chris Duclair (Hooking, 9:29): The Statesman claim the first penalty of the night, Duclair gets called for the obvious hooking call in the corner. However, Hobart killed this off with relative ease, not showing many cracks in the defense.

Hobart continued on the pressure once they got back 5v5, #20 Shane Shell & #8 Tanner Daniels tried to hook up on a 2v1 opportunity, but Daniels fanned on the shot, keeping the game scoreless.

#22 Payne Gatewood of Geneseo blocked a hard shot with his hand, causing noticeable pain… as expected.

There was a Hobart rush in the final minute, this caused a post-whistle scrum after the puck slid past the left post, then scavenged up by Adam Harris who played an incredible period of hockey in net.

We finish up a physical and fast period of hockey with a scoreless 0-0 game. The glaring stat was Hobart led in the shot category 17-4. Nothing much noteworthy occurring other than physical even play.

2nd Period

#3 Cooper Fensterstock of Geneseo fanned in the slot, missing a wide-open opportunity on net, one of Geneseo’s best potential chances they’ve had so far.

Hobart 1-0: #22 Calum Chau (5:40) – Hobart gets on the board here in the first quarter of the 2nd period. They’ve been in control for most of the game thus far.

#17 Bryce Howard for Geneseo was injured a few minutes after the Statesman goal, following a big hit. He’s helped off the ice, it appeared to be a lower body injury.

Just past the 8 minute mark, Hobart ‘scored’, but it was ruled a “no-goal”, Head Coach Mark Taylor decided to challenge the call, but to no avail, the call of “no-goal” stands as called, costing Hobart their timeout.

Geneseo Penalty – #39 Filip Wieberg picks up a minor boarding penalty at 12:49 of the period. This would be killed off as Hobart applied heavy pressure, but Geneseo’s shot-blocking prevailed, ma

Geneseo Penalty – #55 Peter Morgan – Tripping (19:57) 

Geneseo finally cracks, considering the shot totals, they’re lucky to be down just one, if Harris hadn’t played an incredible first pair of periods, they could easily be down 4 or 5…

3rd Period

Geneseo 1-1: #55 Peter Morgan (2:16) – Peter Morgan buries one to tie it up for the Ice Knights, finally getting something to go their way tonight.

Back-and-forth play would continue, not giving much of an inch either way.

Hobart 2-1: #11 Matthew Iasenza (10:36) – buries a nearside goal, slipping past Harris, a rare mistake by the goaltender tonight as he’s made 37 saves to this point.

This game would continue being simple back-and-forth defensive play, Geneseo holding on and Hobart maintaining control.

This highlight-less play continued, Geneseo pulled the goalie late, they did not score, nor give up a goal. Hobart advances 2-1.

Adam Harris finishes the game with 38 saves on 40 shots for Geneseo, Damon Beaver finishes with 20 saves on 21 shots in the win. Hobart will play for their third-straight national championship.

Press Conference Notes: Hobart

I asked Coach Taylor if Geneseo did anything unexpected from the film or style of play, Coach Taylor said:

“Not really, I mean we nowadays know what everybody’s doing, got a lot of time to look at film… You know some bounces didn’t go our way. I thought we had to earn our goals the hard way, but you know, that’s hockey”.

Press Conference Notes: SUNY Geneseo

I asked seniors Adam Harris and Peter Morgan what they want to be remembered for by their staff’s, teammates, and people around them after their time at Geneseo, Adam said:

“Honestly, the on-ice stuff is kind of irrelevant…Our senior leadership was incredible. It made me and showed what is expected of us day in and day out. So I want to be remembered as the one that instilled that culture in the younger people and just continue to make a better organization”.

Peter echoed much of what Adam said, but he added: “not by the on-ice stuff, but show the juniors, sophomores, and freshman, guys that came in, how to act, how to play, how to be good human beings. I know the guys that graduated for us did exactly that and I’m super proud to play my four years at Geneseo… I’m thankful for the four years we had”.

Head Coach Chris Schultz added: “People look at these guys for wins and losses. They don’t understand how good of people they are… people get caught up in you know, why didn’t you… We have four losses on the year, and you have to hear from people why you lost four. What they don’t understand is there’s a story behind it, and these two guys are awesome”.