MOUNT VERMON, NY - Christopher Murphy and Phil Lelikov led the way as the Highlanders overcame a slow start to beat Fordham 5-4 at the Ice Hutch on Friday.

The game was evenly played throughout the first period with the only goal coming from the Rams who took a 1-0 lead.  It was more of the same as the teams traded goals in the 2nd until the Fordham increased their lead to 3-1 with a devastating goal with only three seconds left in the second period.
 
Fordham struck again early in the third period to increase their lead to 4-1. A few minutes later NJIT's Lelikov began the improbable comeback when he split the defense and put an off-balance shot into the net to close the score to 4-2.  The momentum swing was tangible as the Highlanders began to control the game.  NJIT began making aggressive attacks on net that resulted with a pair of penalties for the Rams within minutes of each other.  The Highlanders took advantage of the five-on-three power play as Murphy scored his second goal of the game to bring NJIT within one goal.  Still a man up with the power play, the Highlanders decided to pull goal keeper Thomas Pyrka for the extra advantage. Lelikov capitalized and was able to tie the game 4-4.
 
Fordham was stunned but certainly not as much as when Murphy drove the net to complete his hat trick just 20 seconds later with the game winning goal.  There was still some work to do with just under a minute to play.  Fordham got the puck deep in the Highlanders zone and pulled their goalie, but were unable to get a shot on goal.
 
The Highlanders had some stellar penalty killing from Daniel Makowski and Gregory Hopler.  Other key contributors were Pyrka with some timely saves to keep the momentum going and David Ferrero, Matthew Lepinski, Kyle Bendel, Yllano Tubilleja and Michael Barrera who were all credited with assists. 
 
NJIT will travel to Esetro, FL the first week of December to take on Florida Gulf Coast.