Starting off the weekend matchups the Roadrunners faced Columbia University on Friday, Sept. 27, and Rutgers University on Saturday, Sept. 28. The Roadrunners had a difficult time this weekend by losing both games.
The Roadrunners had Alec Rittenhouse in goal. Columbia heavily controlled the game in the beginning, scoring three goals during the first period. The Roadrunners came back with just a minute left in the first period with a goal from Brady Vella, assisted by Jacob Hepburn. The score now was 3-1 at the end of the period.
Columbia University started off a little early in the first period with a tripping penalty against Ki Him Nicholas. Then, following Nicholas’ penalty, Columbia’s Zachary Olah received another tripping penalty for the Lions with nine minutes remaining in the first period.
Columbia led 3-1 as both teams moved into the second period. The Roadrunners kicked it off with a goal from Brock Fizer, assisted by Robert Wogisch, with 10 minutes left in the period. The Roadrunners were able to hold off the Lions as they started to close the gap, making it 3-2.
Things were heating up as they moved into the third period. The Roadrunners started off on the wrong foot when Wogisch received a penalty for holding with 16 minutes left in the period. Then with 14 minutes left in the period, Adam Moskal received a penalty for roughing with Brandon Avezov from Columbia. Lastly, with seven and a half minutes left, Fizer for the Roadrunners received the final penalty of the game for holding.
The game started to heat up in the last seven minutes where, in the span of one minute, Columbia scored three times to now make the score 6-2. Four minutes later, Columbia’s Brendan Preskar scored, increasing the score to 7-2. This blunder made the Roadrunners motivated to score, but were unable to fully match Columbia. In the final stretch of the game, Ramapo’s Devin Haines, assisted by Daniel Phillips, scored their final goal to make the final score 7-3.
The Roadrunners faced Rutgers next with Rittenhouse back in goal for the night. In the beginning, the Roadrunners faced bad luck when Moskal received a penalty for boarding 19 minutes left in the period. Rutgers’ Timothy Downes also received a penalty for holding with less than 15 minutes left in the period.
The Roadrunners scored the first goal of the game from Daniel Kulbanskiy with an assist by number 29, Wogisch, 13 minutes remaining in the first period. About two minutes later, Moskal received a penalty for roughing. That issue was immediately put to rest when Fizer scored their second goal of the game with nine minutes remaining, now making the score 2-0. Unfortunately, Rutgers came right back, less than 30 seconds later, in the first period to score their first goal of the game, the score now 2-1.
With eight minutes left of the first period, the Roadrunners received a penalty for boarding against Kulbanskiy. Later on, with the last thirty seconds in the period, Hepburn received a penalty for holding.
The second period was underway when Rutgers received a penalty for high-sticking five minutes in. The Roadrunners took advantage of the power play and went on to score their third goal, delivered by Wogisch and assisted by Fizer. Along with the goal, Ramapo’s Brian Atwell and Rutgers’ Averee Acuna both received penalties for roughing, but the score was now 3-1 for the Roadrunners. With about six minutes left in the second period, Luca Carnemolla scored, assisted by Moskal and Hepburn. Shortly after, Rutgers scored their second goal to make the game 4-2. The second period was left with one more penalty for the Roadrunners by James Sonvico for roughing, and two more penalties against Rutgers.
In the third period, the Roadrunners struggled to score and received more penalties with ten minutes left in the game. Rutgers finished strong with four more goals to make the final score 7-4.
Disappointing weekend for the Roadrunners as they continue their season with a record of 2-4 on the season. The Roadrunners face Fordham on Friday, Oct. 4, and Neumann University on Saturday, Oct. 5, both at Ice Vault Arena.
jbarnes5@ramapo.edu
Featured photo courtesy of @tessapofahlphotos, Instagram
