The Warriors were staring at two big divisional games this weekend, their first of the season, against the Scarlet Knights of Rutgers-Camden and the Bison of Bucknell. It would all start with a big tilt on Saturday afternoon at the Rev against Rutgers. Both teams were coming into the weekend with an identical 1-1 record in the conference but Rutgers started their weekend at home on Friday night against a solid Salisbury team, losing 8-3. So ESU was looking to jump on a tired Rutgers team after a late night game the day before (thanks Virtua youth) but the two teams would end the first period at a stalemate with the only action coming from three ESU penalties in the period that Rutgers was not able to capitalize on. Then things got weird in the 2nd period as 7 goals would be scored between the two teams. First it would be Rutgers jumping out to a 2-0 lead after goals scored by Charles Iannarello and Keir Nemec just 25 seconds apart. The Warriors would have an answer to cut the lead in half just 25 seconds later thanks to Freshman Sean McGinley after he was able to deflect a Tom Zarzecki shot from the point past the Rutgers netminder. But, just a minute later, Rutgers would be able to regain the two goal advantage with a goal from #62 John Hoppeler (won't be the last time we heard his name). So to recap, 4 goals scored within two minutes after there was no scoring for the first 24:50 of the game but ESU had them right where they wanted them, two goal lead, worst lead in hockey. The Warriors would go on to score the next three goals of the game to take a 4-3 lead. The first one coming from a bad angle shot from Josh Barber that opened the flood gates, then Sean McGinley was able to put home two more to complete the period. The Warriors would go into the third period with a one goal lead looking to get two huge points from this contest heading into a matchup with the first place Bison the next day. But Rutgers had a different plan, although it took them a while to execute it. As it would take all the way until the 1:07 mark for them to tie it up at 4 a piece thanks to a nifty move by Rutgers forward John Hoppeler (told you we would hear from him again) on the powerplay and with the goalie pulled. ESU would now have to regroup themselves as they were heading to their second OT game of the season after losing to Kutztown in overtime two weeks ago. Sadly though, this one would end just like the last one as Rutgers would score the OT winner with about a minute left in the period and gaining the two points.

Game Notes: Josh Seder - 41 saves on 46 shots, Sean McGinley with the hat trick

Player of the Game: Tom Zarzecki - 2 assists and 1,000,000 shots on net

It would be a quick turnaround for the Warriors as they would have to take on Bucknell the very next day at Sunbury Ice Rink, a place where they were able to win a shootout two years ago (foreshadowing) against the Bison. This Bucknell team would come into this game limping though as they dealt with a physical Bloomsburg team the night before in an 8-7 slugfest (literally) victory. The Warriors would also be playing shorthanded, down one skater, as well as beat up (thanks to multiple blasts from Bucknell's #25). And this game would not have the start that the Warriors were hoping for as the 1st period mirrored the 2nd period against Rutgers, as ESU would fall in a 3-1 hole but this time there would be no three goal burst at the end of the period to take a lead. The remaining game would see a lot of zone time from Bucknell but not a lot of shots on net, missing high and wide a lot, and some spurts from the Warriors but nothing was getting through (at least not according to the refs). Then ESU was given a gift towards the end of the 2nd period when the Bucknell goalie was not able to handle a hard dump in from Ray Seakan and Steve Quimby was able to tap in the puck that was sitting right behind him to make it a 3-2 game and shift the momentum to the Warriors side. From then on out the Warriors were pouncing on the Bison with an extra gear after the game became a one goal affair. Then finally, the Warriors would finally get the equalizer they were looking for after a bunch of huge saves from goaltender Josh Seder. It would again come on a dump in, this time from Tom Zarzecki who finally found the back of the net after putting a million shots on net the entire weekend. After the game became tied, both squads were tired and were only able to muster a scoring opportunity here and there with a few quality chances popping up in the last two minutes. But this one was heading to overtime, ESU's second of the weekend and third of the season so far in the first 8 games. This time ESU would not surrender the game in OT as the period would end with the same 3-3 score and we were heading to the first shootout of the season. The first two shooters of each team were denied by the goaltenders, but the third shooter for ESU, Steve Quimby, would be able to sneak one through the five hole and goaltender Josh Seder would be able to stop the last shooter from Bucknell to get the victory and two crucial points.

Game Notes: Ray Seakan (2A) and Steve Quimby (G,A) with 2 points each

Players of the Game: Josh Seder (3 for 3 in the shootout) and Travis Moore

The Warriors get back at it next weekend with a league game at Salisbury on Saturday and a non league game at home against Western Connecticut State on Sunday. Salisbury comes into the game with an overall record of 5-5-1 and a league record of 3-0, sitting in 2nd place in the American West Division just 2 points behind PSU Harrisburg. Western Connecticut State is in its first year and have lost both games they have played so far (UCONN 7-3, SCSU 10-3). Game time is set for 10:30am on Sunday so better have the coffee ready for the early start. ESU now sits at 5-1-2 overall and 2-1-1 in the conference.