In one of the most exciting games of the year, NJIT beat the Millersville Marauders 7-5 in a hard earned victory on the road.
In this, the first game of the annual overnight weekend against a pair of GNCHC Western Division opponents, the Highlanders who roared back from a early 2-0 deficit out-scored the Marauders 7-3 the rest of the way.
Continuing their strong play in the 2nd semester, having now won 4 out of 5 games in January, NJIT fueled their playoff hopes with a win over a quality team in the "stronger" Western Division of the league.
Millersville came out playing their trademark physical style and it took the Highlanders a few minutes to stretch out their "bus legs" and raise their level of play. By the time they did Millersville had already opened the scoring and had a 2-goal lead on a pair of quick power play goals.
But the Highlanders proved to be up to the task as they put up 2 quick power play goals of their own. The only difference being that NJIT also added an even-strength goal to take the lead.
Christopher Pawlik scored the first 2 goals on slap-shots from the Right Point. James Wintjen sacrificed his body going hard to the net to score just 10 seconds later and the Highlanders had a lead that they would not relinquish.
The 3-goal flurry took place in just under 3 minutes, which left the Marauders shaking their heads. Millersville scored another in the first period to tie the game at 3 only to see NJIT take the lead again going into the intermission, on another power play goal, this time by Corrado Mancini, assisted by Pawlik.
Millersville would again tie the game only to have Jason Anagnos reestablish the lead for NJIT off a beautiful pass from Mancini on a 2 on 1. The game winning goal was scored when Nicholas Naumovski planted himself in the slot and re-directed a Christian Corey slap-shot from the left point to extend the lead to 2 goals at the end of the 2nd period.
The Marauders, continuing to work hard were rewarded when Evan Miller scored his 2nd goal of the game, but couldn't get over the hump as Mancini - assist to Alex Guimares - scored the 4th Highlander power play goal to seal the 2-goal win.
Goaltender Michael Lipinski faced numerous good scoring chances in the 37 shots on net and kept his team in the game by giving up only 2 even strength goals.
