UTICA, N.Y. (WKTV) - The Utica College men's hockey team dropped a heartbreaker Friday night as it fell to visiting No. 5 Hobart College, 4-3 in overtime at the Utica Memorial Auditorium. Hobart tied the game with less than ten seconds remaining and then scored in the first 1:15 of overtime to secure the victory.

The Statesmen got on the board at 9:58 of the first period as Bronson Kovacs netted his sixth goal of the year as he deflected a shot from Terrence O'Neill.  Harry Radovich also assisted on the tally.

Just 53 seconds into the second period, sophomore Louie Educate (Chicago, IL/Aberdeen (NAHL)) netted his team-best 15th goal of the season, on the power play as he rocketed a shot from the point that hit the left post and went in.   Freshman Donny Olivieri (Philadelphia, PA/Bismarck (NAHL)) and junior Trever Hertz (Jaffray, British Columbia/Quesnel Millionaires (BCHL)) assisted on the score.

After just two goals scored total in the first two periods, the teams exploded to add two goals each in the final frame.  Senior Rob Morton (New Hartford, NY/Merrimack (Hockey East)) started the rally at 13:10 as he tipped home his 11th of the year off assists from freshman Joel Wetmore (Horseheads, NY/Lindsay (OJHL)) and junior Jon Gaffney (Dover, NJ/Springfield Blues (NAHL)).   Just four minutes later, Hobart was able to tie it up as Bobby Hannah beat Utica goalie Nick Therrien (Rochester, NH/NY Apple Core (EJHL)) for his seventh of the season.  Brad Richard and Ryan Michel added helpers on the tally.  Then with just a minute remaining, Sophomore Peter LaFosse (Merrimack, NH/Kimball Union Academy) rushed in on a partial breakaway and drove in a shorthanded goal to put the Pioneers back on top 3-2.  Junior Ridge Garbutt (Toronto, Ontario/Brewster Academy (NH)) assisted on LaFosse's fourth of the year.

In a last ditch effort, the Statesmen pulled goalie Nick Broadwater to add an extra attacker and go on a 6-on-4 advantage.  It paid off as Tommaso Traversa found the back of the net with just 8.1 seconds remaining to even the score.  Radovich and Ben Gamache assisted on the tying goal.

Then just 1:15 into overtime, Mac Olson sealed the victory for the Statesmen as Frank Salituro and Kovacs found him wide open in front to tap in the winner.

Therrien stopped 34 shots in the loss, while Broadwater totaled 24 saves.  Both teams will return to the Aud on Sunday for the series finale.  Game time will be at 3 p.m.