NEWARK, NJ - After two difficult games against top-end MCHC opponents on the road, the NJIT men's hockey team were looking to rebound against Susquehanna. The River Hawks won by the score of 4-3 at the RWJBarnabas Health Hockey House. The Highlanders are 0-1 against non-ACHA teams and 0-1 vs. Susquehanna. The two teams will play each other again in Sunbury, PA in a few weeks.

The River Hawks scored the only goal in the 1st period and led 1-0 after the 1st 20 minutes of play. NJIT would tie it when Brandon Clayton scored just 26 seconds into the 2nd. Sal Micciche and Noah Bergen got the assists. Susquehanna would regain the lead nearly halfway through the period on the power play. Sal Micciche had a penalty shot opportunity moments before that power play goal, but was denied. But, the Highlanders would again level the score with 3:04 left when Emory Marshall deflected an Anton Martino blast from the left point. Bergen would get the secondary assist. It would remain 2-2 after the 2nd intermission.

The 3rd period was an even period until less than five minutes remaining when the River Hawks would once again take the lead at 3-2. They would add an insurance goal a few moments later to get their 1st 2-goal advantage. NJIT would continue to battle late as Freshman Ryan Fox scored his 1st goal as a Highlander on the power play with 41 seconds remaining. Clayton got the lone assist for his 2nd point of the night. The Highlanders were unable to get another high quality scoring chance to tie it before the clock hit zero. Noah Gibb made 24 saves in a strong outing.

Goals: Clayton, Marshall, Fox

Assists: Micciche, Bergen (2), Martino, Clayton

Saves: Gibb 24 saves

SOG: NJIT - 29; Susquehanna - 28

PP: Susquehanna - 1/1; NJIT - 1/2

PK: Susquehanna - 1/2; Susquehanna - 0/1

The Highlanders will play next Sunday against the York College Spartans, 5:30 pm in York, PA at the York Ice Arena.