NEWARK, NJ -  After a lopsided loss to Stevens the night before, the NJIT men's hockey were looking to rebound in a huge MCHC showdown against the US Merchant Marine Academy Mariners. Both teams are chasing 4th place for the final MCHC playoff spot and a win would help either one of the teams' chances in doing so. The Highlanders came back to win 4-3 in a shootout after trailing by one going into the 3rd period. NJIT is now 2-5 in MCHC and 3-6 overall in ACHA games.

Brenden Smith for the 2nd straight night scored the 1st goal of the game 3:59 into the game. Brain Szastak got the lone helper on the goal. The Highlanders would take a 2-0 lead a few minutes later when Brian Szastak got his 5th of the season. Paul Wendling and Matthew Francescutto got the assists. NJIT would take the same 2-goal lead after 20 minutes.

The Mariners would control all of the 2nd period scoring 3 goals to take a 3-2 lead after the 2nd intermission. Szastak got a big power play goal nearly six and half minutes into the 3rd to tie the game. Francescutto and Sal Micciche would get the helpers. The game went into overtime and both teams got high quality opportunities in the 5 minute 3-on-3, but the game remained 3-3 after the overtime period. In the shootout, Micciche and Bergen scored to give the Highlanders a 2-1 lead after two rounds. In the third round, Francescutto was denied in winning the game, but Puletz made a shootout sealing save to give NJIT the win. The Highlanders are now 2-0 (3-0 including non-ACHA win vs Stevens) in the shootout on the season. Colby Puletz made 33 saves in the evening

Goals: Smith, Szastak (2)

Shootout Goals: Micciche, Bergen

Assists: Szastak, Wendling, Francescutto (2), Micciche 

Saves: Puletz 33 saves

SOG: USMMA - 36; NJIT - 33

PP: USMMA - 1/4; NJIT - 1/4

PK: USMMA - 3/4;  NJIT - 3/4

The Highlanders will end their 2024 portion of the 24-25 season against Yeshiva at the Rink at the American Dream Mall on Thursday at 9:30.