Newark, NJ – The NJIT men's hockey team was looking to start the 2019 spring semester by extending their winning streak to four games, unfortunately the St. Joseph's Hawks had other ideas. The Hawks scored three times in the 2nd period and got the winning goal in the 3rd and escaped the RWJBarnabas Health Hockey House with a victory. The Highlanders record now stands at 8-11 in ACHA games and they finish with a record of 2-4 against non-conference opponents in the season.
Adrian Wong scored his 1st goal of the season as the opening tally of the contest, which came late in the 1st period. Dennis Sikorjak and Will Hoer got the helpers as NJIT had the one-goal advantage after a period of play. St. Joseph's lived up to their #15 ranking in the Southeast Region as they scored three goals in the 2nd period, all three goals were scored as a natural hat-trick by the Hawks' Eddie Corvelli. Despite that fact, the Highlanders kept the game close as they were able to kill off a total of 4 power plays through two periods to keep the score a two-goal deficit.
James Copeland continued his strong play, cutting the Hawks lead to one with an early 3rd period goal. It became a very physical and chippy period as NJIT took a wide variety of penalties, but their penalty kill answered the bell at every moment it needed to. But, St. Joseph's finally got a power play as they scored on the 1st half of a 4 minute double minor power play to make the score 4-2. Will Hoer scored with just under four minutes remaining on a 5 minute major power play to cut the lead now to 1 goal again. The Highlander had 6 on 4 man advantage in the final minute of play and seemed to have a great chance at tying the game, but another penalty called on them ended their hopes. The final was 4-3 in the Hawks favor as the Highlanders couldn't get any last chances through to the net.
Goals: Wong, Copeland, Hoer
Assists: Sikorjak, Hoer, Barrera, Lepinski
Saves: Matthew Altomare 27 saves
SOG: St. Joseph's – 31 | NJIT – 30
PP: St. Joseph's – 1/9 | NJIT – 1/4
PK: St. Joseph's – 3/4 | NJIT – 8/9
NJIT will start a 4-game road trip all against Colonial States College Hockey foes, starting with a game against the two-time reigning Colonial Cup Champions TCNJ next Saturday night at Loucks Ice Center in Lawrenville, NJ at 8:30 pm. The Highlanders next home game will be their season finale vs. the Monmouth Hawks on February 9th at 8:30 pm at the RWJBarnabas Health Hockey House.
Courtesy Kofi Appiah Club Hockey
