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GENEVA, N.Y. – Host Hobart, playing its home opener, rallied from an early deficit Friday to defeat ECAC West rival Nazareth, 5-2, in the Golden Flyers' first of two weekend hockey games.

The loss was the first of the season for the Golden Flyers, who dropped to 2-1-1 overall and 1-1-1 in conference games. Hobart improved to 3-2 overall and 2-1 in the ECAC West.

Nazareth had numerous chances, evidenced by a 47-32 advantage in shots. The Golden Flyers went 0-for-9 on the power play and was unable to capitalize on a 5-on-3 opportunity in the second period that included a five-minute major penalty to Hobart's Jon Neal for checking from behind.

Nazareth led 1-0 on a goal by Justin LaCorte, who scored for the first time this season, off a centering pass from Ben Blasko,  who recorded his team-leading seventh assist. Freshman defenseman Ryan Walter also assisted for his first career point.

Hobart rallied to take a 2-1 lead after one period and then scored again early in the second to take a 3-1 advantage and never trailed again. A goal by Andrew Silard tied the score and the Stastesmen scored again midway through the first period on a short-handed goal by Ben Gamache.

Hobart made it 3-1 early in the second when Mac Olson finished a behind-the-net pass from Robert Sovik. Then after misfiring on the power play, Nazareth got a goal from Rocky Gruttadauria with 2:48 left in the period with an assist from Tom Seravalli. Hobart, however, regained its two-goal cushion with :21 left in the second as Tyler Wolf intercepted a pass at the Nazareth blue line and fed Nick Bingaman for the tally.

Hobart sealed the win on a power play goal by Carl Belizario with 5:21 left in the third. Nazareth had a chance earlier in the third period when a shot by Geoff Bagnall hit the right goal post. Then on Nazareth's final power play chance, a shot by Blasko that was ticketed for the upper right corner was gloved by Statesmen freshman goalie Frank Oplinger, who finished with 45 saves. Ed Zdolshek, making his fourth straight start in goal for Nazareth, made 27 saves.

Nazareth played its third straight game without junior captain Scott Dawson (concussion) and sophomore forward C.J. Murray (leg). Nazareth returns to action Saturday for a non-conference game at second-ranked Oswego at 7 p.m.