TCNJ came into the first weekend of the season with high expectations but they also knew they had a strong test with a home and home series against Division 1 Lehigh University. On Friday evening the Lions traveled to Bethlehem, PA to take on the Mountain Hawks and they started off the game with high energy and they were able to get on the board first. Senior Captain Travis Beni would control a puck off of a faceoff and sending a seeing eye shot to the net and junior forward Glen Puzo would tip it high into the net. Lehigh would answer a few minutes later to tie the game and the period would end with the score knotted at one. The Mountain Hawks turned on the pressure in the second period but freshman goalie Mike Bussanich would stand tall, stopping all 22 shots he faced. The Lions would retake the lead on a power play goal from senior Andrew Summa, he buried a great feed from freshman defenseman Matt Cislo. TCNJ came out stronger in the third period, looking to finish the game off strong and Anthony DeAlto would give them a much needed insurance goal. Freshman Ryan Lagriola blocked a shot high in the defensive zone and sent the puck up to DeAlto for a breakaway, he would finish a nice move to give the Lions the two goal lead. Lehigh would answer with six minutes left to cut the lead to one but DeAlto would again put the game out of reach with an empty net goal with just under a minute left and the Lions would go on to win 4-2. Bussanich would get the hard hat for his 43 save performance in his first college game but Summa (10 blocked shots and a goal) and DeAlto (2 third period goals) received honorable mentions. 

Saturday evening the Lions made their home debut in a new building, playing in front of the TCNJ fans at the Cure Insurance Arena for the first time. They had another another goalie making his college debut as Justin Cooper got the nod between the pipes. Lehigh came out in the first period looking for revenge and they would strike first, late in the first period and took the one goal lead into the intermission. The Lions would come out strong in the second period and junior forward Sean Leonard would tie the game at one, converting a pass from Travis Beni at about the five minute mark of the second period and the period would end tied at one. The third period would be back and forth, with both teams getting good chances but both goalies would keep the game tied, sending the game into overtime. The Mountain Hawks would get the win a minute into OT when a point shot got through Cooper after going through a maze of players, giving TCNJ their first defeat of the young season. Cooper was excellent in net, stopping 42 shots and the team did well to fight back after a lackluster first period. 

The Lions are back at it this weekend with two more tough games, both against Division 1 William Paterson University. TCNJ travels to the Ice Vault on Friday evening, puck drop should be at 7:45pm. On Sunday, the Lions will host the Pioneers at the Cure Insurance Arena and puck drop should be at 3:40pm.