The Lions played their first Colonial league game on Friday night, taking on the Princeton Tigers at historic Hobey Baker Rink. TCNJ started off strong in the first period, outshooting the Tigers 12-3 but the Princeton goalie would keep them off the board. The second period would be much of the same but the Lions would finally break through. Andrew Summa would finish off a rush with Anthony DeAlto getting the lone assist and then a couple minutes Later Summa would tip home a point shot from Chris Cantelmo for a two goal lead. The Tigers would cut into the lead with a power play goal but before the period would end DeAlto would restore two goal lead, Summa and Logan Viducic would get the assists. The Lions controlled the third period and goalie Nick Montemarano, making his first start would lock it down for the 3-1 win and a 1-0 start to the Colonial League season. 

On Saturday, TCNJ made it's long awaited return to Loucks Ice Center to take on the Villanova Icecats D1 team. Villanova would control the first period but goalie Michael Bussanich and the team defense kept the game scoreless. The Cats would break the ice in the second period, scoring three straight goals to take a commanding lead but the Lions would respond. While on a five minute penalty kill Andrew Summa would finish off a shorthanded off an odd-man rush to give TCNJ some momentum, the second period would end with the Icecats up two. TCNJ would keep the momentum going in the third period and Sean Leonard would score to make it a one goal game and a few minutes later, senior Patrick Willever would tie the game when he finished off a rebound from the slot. Nova would retake the lead with a power play goal with seven minutes left but the Lions would respond with a power play goal of their own when Summa would put home his second of the game. The Lions would kill off a late penalty and control play in OT but were unable to score, sending the game to a shootout where Villanova would score the only two goals to take the game. 

The Lions are off to a solid start, going 2-2-0-2 against some very strong competition. They have another tough weekend with a road game against the Rowan Profs on Saturday and they return to the Cure Insurance arena on Sunday at 3:20pm. The D3 team kicks off their season on Friday with an away game against the Monmouth Hawks.