Hobart Beats Iroquois in Fall Finale

Courtesy of Hobart Sports Information

GENEVA, N.Y.-The Hobart lacrosse wrapped up its fall schedule and kicked off Hobart and William Smith's Native American Conference titled, "Lacrosse: The Creator's Game" with an exhibition game against the Iroquois National Team.

The Statesmen got off to a fast start, outscoring their guests 6-1 in the first quarter. Hobart stretched its advantage to 9-3 midway through the second frame, but the Iroquois tightened up their defense and ratcheted up their offense for a 20-12 win.

The Statesmen had everything working in the first quarter. Hobart scored the first four goals of the contest, including back-to-back tallies by Chris Pedersen.

Peter Jacobs got the Iroquois on the board with 6:44 left in the first, but Tyler Cassell and David Chakola countered for the Statesmen in the final 93 seconds of the quarter.

The second quarter got off to a wild start. Four of the first five goals came from the extra-man units. Tyler Smith gave Hobart a 7-1 just 25 seconds in. Jacobs struck for back-to-back extra-man goals to make it a 7-3 game, but David Biegler and Tim Bigelow pushed the Statesmen back in front by six.

The Iroquois rattled off the final four goals of the half to head into the break down 9-7.

The Iroquois evened the score with back-to-back tallies to start the second half, but Tyler Simmons restored the Statesmen lead with his lone goal of the night. The Iroquois took the lead for good with the next three goals.

Doug Shiver made it a one-goal game, 12-11, with 3:15 remaining in the third quarter, but the Iroquois scored six unanswered spanning the third and four quarters to break the game open.

Although official stats were not kept, Hobart was very successful at the faceoff X thanks to the play of Bobby Dattilo. The Statesmen used several different line up configurations, mixing and matching personnel on attack, in the midfield, and on defense. Hobart also used three different goalies in the exhibition.

The contest showed what Hobart is capable of when its firing on all cylinders and identified areas the Statesmen need to work on before the spring season.

"When we play at our pace and we handle the ball well, we can be a good ball club," Head Coach T.W. Johnson said. "But we've got to do that for 60 minutes."

"Lacrosse: The Creator's Game" will continue on Oct. 29, with a screening of the film "Sacred Sport," presented by filmmaker Jordan Kligerman at 7 p.m. in the Geneva Room.

The conference will wrap up with a "Women in Lacrosse" roundtable discussion on Nov. 12, at 7 p.m. in the Seneca Room.  The discussion will be led by William Smith Lacrosse Coach Pat Genovese; Sandy Jemison, girls lacrosse coach and former member of the all-Iroquois women's team; and Tia Smith, Haudenosaunee International Federation of Women's Lacrosse Association Delegate, who will share their personal journeys and the struggles they encountered in pursuing participation in organized lacrosse.

The 2010 Hobart lacrosse season will begin on Feb. 27, when the Statesmen host Cornell.