Men's Ice Hockey | 11/13/2016 10:18:00 PM

NEWARK, NJ – The NJIT men's hockey team was defeated by UPenn 8-5 on Sunday at the Barnabas Health Hockey House.

The Quakers swept the season series against the Highlanders for the first time since the Colonial State College Hockey Conference was formed in 2014.

David Ferrero and Alex Fleischmann paced the Highlanders with each collecting two goals and an assist.

The first period started out in the favor of NJIT. Alex Fleischmann opened the scoring off a pass from Will Hoer to give the Highlanders the lead. Less than a minute later, David Ferrero notched another goal for NJIT putting them up 2-0. UPenn cut the deficit to one goal a few minutes later off a power play. Gregory Hopler scored his first career goal late in the first of a rebound shot from Michael Wright giving the Highlanders a 3-1 advantage going into the second quarter.

The Quakers took over the second period scoring four unanswered goals taking a 5-3 lead. Fleischmann tallied his second goals of the night making it a one point game.

In the third UPenn posted three more goals to pull away, however NJIT continued to fight with another goal by Ferrero late in the third period making the final score 8-5.

Thomas Pyrka made 26 saves, and Matthew Altomore finished the contest making 10 saves after relieving Pyrka in the third period. 

NJIT will play two home games this weekend starting November 18 at Barnabas Health Hockey House, first against Millersville on Friday at 8:45pm and Saturday the Highlanders face off against Scranton at 8:30pm.

Goals: Fleischmann (2), Ferrero (2), Hopler

Assists: Hoer (2), Fleischmann, Wright, Paul Roth, Ferrero, Daniel Crandall

Saves: Pyrka 26, Altomore 10