NEWARK, NJ – Senior defenseman James Lyle had his 1^st career hat-trick to lead the Highlanders in a 7-3 victory over the Monmouth Hawks. The Highlanders split the season series with Monmouth at 1-1 and their CSCHC record now stands at 4-11. Their home record at the RWJBarnabas Health Hockey is at 2-8 and their overall record in ACHA play is at 4-15.

Michael Caufield broke the ice just 18 seconds into the game to give NJIT the early lead. The goal extended Caufield's point streak to 12 games. Monmouth would tie the game less than two minutes later at 1-1. Dalton Smith would give the Highlanders the lead back on the power play a minute in a half later. James Lyle would score on the power play as well at 6:02 in the 1^st to give the Highlanders a two goal lead. The Hawks would cut their deficit to 3-2 halfway through the period. Jeffrey Patterson would get his 3^rd goal of the season late in the period and NJIT would have a 4-2 lead after the 1^st period.

The 2^nd period was not as high scoring as the 1^st as the Highlanders kept the amount of goals scored even at one goal apiece. The Monmouth goal would happen just 1:15 into the 2^nd period as once again the lead was down to one goal. But, NJIT would respond with Lyle's second goal of the night and their third goal on the power play to regain their two goal advantage again. The score after two periods would read 5-3 in the Highlander's favor.

The Highlanders were able to keep the Hawks off the scoreboard in the 3^rd period while putting the game away with special teams. Dalton Smith got his second goal of the night, no surprise on the power play to extend the lead to 6-3 with less than six minutes remaining. James Lyle would his hat-trick goal in style with a shorthanded empty net goal with 1:26 remaining to finish the game off at 7-3 and that score would be the final score. Martin Paro made 42 saves in his 2^nd win of the season.

Goals: Caufield, Smith (2), Lyle (3), Patterson
Assists: Applin, Porter (2), Lee (2)
Saves: Paro 42 saves
SOG: Monmouth – 45            NJIT – 33
PP:    Monmouth - 0/2            NJIT – 4/6
PK:   Monmouth – 2/6            NJIT – 2/2

NJIT will have two road games this coming weekend; on Friday they travel to Piscataway to face off against the Rutgers Ice Knight at a time to be determined. The Highlanders will then go to Lawrenceville to face off against the three-time reigning Colonial Cup Champions TCNJ Saturday night at 8:30.