NEWARK, NJ – After going on a 3-game losing skid before the Thanksgiving break, NJIT men's hockey team bounced back after the break with a huge victory over the Millersville Marauders. After trailing 3-0 going into the third period, a furious rally in the 3^rd period led to an eventually 5-4 result in a shootout. The Highlanders split the season series with the Maruaders at 1-1 and are 4-7 in the Colonial States College Hockey Conference.

Millersville had all the scoring in the first 2 periods, two goals in the 1^st period and one in the 2^nd period to lead 3-0 after the 2^nd intermission. Despite that score, Martin Paro was a big factor in keeping the Highlanders in the game making numerous big saves as NJIT was slowly building momentum as the game wore on. Another key that spurred the comeback for NJIT was their penalty kill. The PK, which had been a weak spot for them all-season, was 4-for-4 through two periods and kept the Marauders lead at 3-goal advantage.

The rally started early in the 3^rd period with a power play scored by senior Michael Crincoli. Crincoli's 9^th goal of the season was assisted by James Lyle. Will Hoer gave the Highlanders' second power play goal midway through the period to make it a one score game. Less than two minutes later, James Copeland tied the game with assists from Daniel Mayer and Dennis Sikorjak. The improbable rally seemed to be completed when freshman Ted Lee, got the biggest 1^st goal as a Highlander can have, by jamming the puck into the net on a net-mouth scramble. The goal gave NJIT a 4-3 lead with 1:17 remaining in the contest. Unfortunately, the Maruaders scored on a power play with 22 seconds left to go to tie it.

Both teams went back and forth in the 4-on-4 overtime period, but neither team could get the game winner. In past years in the Colonial States, the game would end in a tie, but starting this season, all games had to end with a shootout to decide a winner. Through five rounds of a shootout, the score was even at 2-2 with Mayer and Caufield scoring the goals. Caufield scored in the top of the 6^th round to make it 3-2. Paro sealed the win with a save in the bottom of the 6^th round to win the game for the Highlanders 5-4.

Goals: Crincoli, Hoer, Copeland, Lee
Assists: Lyle, Lepinski, Crincoli (2), Mayer, Sikorjak, Hoer
Shootout Goals: Caufield (2), Mayer
Saves: Paro 34 saves
Shootout Saves: Paro 4 saves
SOG: Millersville – 38           NJIT – 41
PP: Millersville – 1/6             NJIT – 2/4

The Highlanders next game will be tonight against the West Chester Golden Rams at 8:30 at the RWJBarnabas Health Hockey House.