Over the weekend, the Ramapo ice hockey team faced off twice against the Fordham University Rams, falling 6-1 at home on Friday and winning 4-3 on the road on Sunday. The split moves the Roadrunners to 4-3-1 on the season, good enough for third in the Empire Conference.
Beginning with the loss, Ramapo fell victim to a standout performance by Fordham goalie Daniel Gerts, who recorded 46 saves on 47 shot attempts from the Roadrunners. Gerts’ teammate, Andrew Carlson, was able to give the Rams an early lead with a power play goal four minutes into the game, assisted by Owen Goulette and Anthony DeMario.
With six minutes remaining in the first period, Ramapo’s Thomas Moskal evened the score at one-a-piece with a goal assisted by forward Jacob Hepburn and defenseman Michael Piccinich. From that point on, however, the game belonged to the Rams.
Midway through the second period, Fordham retook the lead on a power play goal by defenseman Aidan Graham, assisted by Eamon Croucher. In the third period, the Rams went wild, scoring another four goals.
Goulette scored his second goal of the season just twenty seconds into the period, assisted by DeMario and Carmine Pittelli. With six minutes remaining, Erik Vandermark scored off assists from Danny Koehler and John Langan. One minute later, Pittelli added a goal of his own, assisted by DeMario and Goulette. Finally, Robert Rotondo Jr. scored a power play goal with just under three minutes remaining, assisted by Croucher and Piotr Kszczot.
In goal for the Roadrunners was senior Paul Fiorello, who recorded 18 saves on 24 shot attempts from Fordham, leading to a .750 save percentage, his worst of the season so far.
Ramapo did not do Fiorello any favors either, with 19 total penalty minutes, led by nine from leading-scorer Anthony Fizer.
On Sunday, Ramapo returned to the ice against Fordham and got back to their typical level of play, winning 4-3 in overtime.
The Roadrunners found themselves down early after Pittelli scored off assists from DeMario and Declan Pierce four minutes into action. Second year forward Luca Carnemolla tied the game for Ramapo three minutes later, off assists from first year forwards Jacob Hepburn and Robert Wogisch. With three minutes remaining in the first period, first year defenseman Zach Norton scored his first goal as a Roadrunner, assisted by team captain Rory Maurer.
The Rams struck back in the second period, retaking the lead after goals by DeMario and Carlson in the first half of the period. Fizer would go on to tie the game on a power play opportunity three minutes after Carlson’s goal, assisted by Carnemolla.
After a scoreless third period that saw 12 saves by each goalie, the game headed to overtime. It took only one possession on offense for the Roadrunners to end it, as Norton scored the game-winner off an assist from Moskal.
In total, Fiorello recorded 32 saves on 35 shot attempts, while Gerts saved 37 of the 41 shot attempts from the Roadrunners.
Coming up next for Ramapo will be two non-conference games this weekend. First, the Roadrunners will look to avenge their home-opening loss from September when they travel to face Kutztown University on Friday night, Then, they’ll return home to face Fairfield University on Saturday night at the Ice Vault Arena in Wayne.
wjackso2@ramapo.edu
Featured photo courtesy of Tessa Pofahl
