The Ramapo ice hockey team enjoyed a pair of victories over the weekend, defeating Sacred Heart University (SHU) at home on Friday night, and beating Massachusetts Maritime Academy (MMA) on the road Sunday afternoon. The Roadrunners now sit at 3-2 this season, which places them third in the Empire division.
Beginning with their win over SHU, Ramapo found the net early and often in this match, outscoring the Pioneers 6-1 in the first two periods on their way to a 7-2 victory. Despite the lopsided score, SHU stayed competitive on both ends, outshooting the Roadrunners 44-36. This was the first game this season the Roadrunners won despite being outshot.
Team captain Rory Maurer got the scoring started for Ramapo with a goal five minutes into action, assisted by defenseman Michael Piccinich. Five minutes later, senior forward Alex Cohen scored his first goal of the season, off an assist from alternate captain Daniel Klutkoski. SHU’s Jake Calanni scored his second goal of the season, bringing the Pioneers to within one. However, Ramapo’s Anthony Fizer would get the goal back two minutes later by scoring off assists from Maurer and senior Thomas Moskal.
In the second period, the scoring did not stop for the Roadrunners. Maurer opened the period scoring his second goal of the night off an assist from Moskal. Fizer then took advantage of a power play opportunity, scoring his second of the night — and sixth of the season — off an assist from Maurer. With seven minutes remaining in the period, SHU was given a power play opportunity, but it was Ramapo’s Robert Wogisch who took advantage by sniping a goal from the blue line to give the Roadrunners their sixth goal of the night.
The third period saw SHU’s Calanni and Ramapo’s Fizer exchange goals, and that would be it for the night. In goal, senior Paul Fiorello had his best start yet for the Roadrunners, saving 44 of the 46 shots he faced. SHU’s James Burtch saved 26 shots on 33 attempts. The game also saw a total of 20 penalties, three of which were majors. SHU’s Brendan Murphy was ejected from the game for making illegal contact to the head and instigating a fight.
On Sunday, Ramapo’s win over MMA was a much more traditional 2-0 victory that saw only five total penalties. Fiorello recorded the first shutout of the season for Ramapo, which was also the first of his Ramapo career. Maurer scored the first goal of the game midway through the first period off assists from Moskal and Fizer, proving to be the game-winner. The second goal was an insurance goal off the stick of Fizer, assisted by first-year forward Jacob Hepburn.
This weekend, the Roadrunners will take part in a home-away-from-home against Fordham University. First, Ramapo will host the Rams at the Ice Vault arena in Wayne on Friday night. Then, the team will travel to the Ice Hutch rink in Mount Vernon, NY, to once again face off against Fordham.
wjackso2@ramapo.edu
Featured photo courtesy of Tessa Pofahl
