NEWS | Historic Weekend for TCNJ Hockey as Both Division 1 and Division 3 Take Over First Place
EWING, N.J. — It was a historic and memorable weekend for the TCNJ Ice Hockey program, as both the Division 1 and Division 3 teams delivered impressive performances and continued their climb to the top of their respective league standings.
Division 1 completed a weekend sweep of Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), while Division 3 battled through a depleted lineup to earn a split against Seton Hall and Rowan. The results mark a major milestone for the program, as for the first time in TCNJ Hockey history, both teams are above .500 and sitting in first place in their respective divisions.
Division 1 Sweeps RIT in Dominant Fashion
The TCNJ Division 1 Lions put together an outstanding weekend against RIT, earning a pair of convincing victories to complete the two-game sweep.
TCNJ opened the series Friday, November 6, with a 5-2 victory, then followed it up Saturday, November 7, with an offensive explosion in a 9-3 win. The six-goal victory capped off an impressive weekend and gave the Lions two important wins in the NECHL standings.
Freshman Alex Kotelnikov continued his remarkable season, recording five points over the weekend. His production has moved him into a tie for fourth in the nation in scoring, further establishing him as one of the top offensive players in ACHA Division 1 hockey.
The offensive production was far from limited to Kotelnikov. Kyle Gregory, Gavin Bloder and Josh Kushnir each recorded four points, while Zach Duggan, Nick Gallo, Mathew Greenspoon and Albert Scarmato added three points apiece.
Between the pipes, Nathan Mayer was a rock for the Lions. Mayer turned aside 58 of 63 shots over the two games, providing the steady goaltending needed to secure the sweep.
With the victories, Division 1 now sits alone in first place in the NECHL with a 3-1 record and nine points. The Lions continue to build momentum as they look to maintain their position at the top of the conference.
Division 3 Shows Resilience Through Adversity
The Division 3 Lions faced a different challenge, entering the weekend with a depleted lineup but finding a way to earn a valuable split against Seton Hall and Rowan.
TCNJ opened the weekend with a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Seton Hall. Michael Rodrigues delivered the decisive moment, scoring a huge third-period game-winning goal to secure the win. Ryan Schiffner also made a major impact, scoring two power-play goals, while Braydon Heister led the offensive production with three points.
The Lions then traveled into a tough matchup against Rowan. Despite the shortened lineup, TCNJ battled throughout the contest, forcing overtime before ultimately falling 3-2. The effort demonstrated the team’s determination and ability to compete even when facing adversity.
Goaltender Matthew Gamboa was outstanding throughout the weekend, turning aside an incredible 101 of 106 shots. His performance kept the Lions in both games and gave the team an opportunity to earn points against two competitive opponents.
Despite the overtime loss, the split keeps Coach Beni’s squad in an excellent position. Division 3 currently sits in first place in the MCHC Atlantic West Division with a 5-1 record and 10 points.