The fourth weekend of competition in the Colonial States Collegiate Hockey Conference was the first to have games all three days that affected standings. For Princeton University, the three day gauntlet saw it drop three games to CSCHC teams, with bigger deficits in each one while The College of New Jersey and the University of Pennsylvania both swept their two conference games. In addition, member teams took part in a showcase event for the second straight weekend as both TCNJ co-hosted three teams, including Seton Hall University, for the second annual Lawrenceville Showcase.

Here’s the full recap:

Friday, Oct. 4

TCNJ Lions vs Seton Hall Pirates (9-2)

In a dominant display, including five unanswered goals through two periods, The College of New Jersey took three points against Seton Hall University, 9-2, on Friday evening. 

The conference match-up between the two was set on the backdrop of this year’s Lawrenceville Showcase. The two CSCHC teams played their game just before Rider University (Mid-Atlantic Collegiate Hockey Association) and Central Connecticut State University (Super East Collegiate Hockey League) played one another, with the winners and losers of each set to meet the next day to determine champions. 

TCNJ came out fast in the first period outshooting the Pirates 21-7.  Jameson Dugan put his team up by one after twenty minutes and after the brief intermission his team showed little sign of slowing down. The Lions finished on more of their chances as goals came from Dan Martin, Marc Tietjen, JP Kelly and Travis Beni all in the second period.

Despite the third period seemingly showing Seton Hall getting back on its feet, TCNJ countered at every opportunity. Pirate Jeremy Grabiec scored both his first and second goals of the season, but just as quickly the Lions responded with scores of their own. Kris Hastings and Andrew both found the back of the net before Kelly scored two more, completing a hat-trick, prior to the final whistle. Despite the high offense, goalie Mike Lojewski played his part well stopping 20 of the Pirates 22 shots through 60 minutes while Beni notched a four point game thanks to his goal and three assists. 

UPenn Quakers vs Rutgers Scarlet Knights (5-2)

The University of Pennsylvania won its second straight conference game in convincing fashion on Friday night. Following its win over Millersville last week, the Quakers continued the high offense over Rutgers University, 5-3, at home. 

For its first home game of conference play, the Quakers offense put up 30 shots at the Class of 1923 Arena. Junior Brett Rahbany, who reached the #12 ranking for total points in the ACHA during his freshman season, opened the scoring in the first period with under a minute left. He completed a hat-trick with two more unanswered goals in the second twenty minutes. Connor Blend and Brandon Labe each assisted on a goal while Alex Beckert picked up two assists.

With time winding down, Rutgers managed to cut into the lead when Timothy Bizub got a shot past UPenn’s Xander Kostelnik with just over a minute to go. The Knights looked as though they would be taking the momentum into the final period. But 25 second later Hayden Stephan found Jonas Toupal to reinstate the three goal lead.

The teams split shots and goals in the third, with Beckert scoring ten minutes in, assisted by Rahbany and Will Torgerson, before Rutgers getting one more past Kostelnik with just under six to play. Ryan Hille picked up the Knights final goal, assisted by Josh LoGiudice and Branden Kushnir, as his team finished the game with 21 total shots.

West Chester vs Princeton (2-1)

West Chester University responded to a first period goal and held Princeton scoreless for the remaining forty minutes to come away with the win, 2-1.

Nicholas Cefalu continued his success on the front line, getting his team on the board with just under five minutes to play in the first period off an assist from Mason Wasserman. The back and forth chances from both teams kept each side on their toes, but WCU was able to break away in the last two periods. 

 Alex Marino scored goals for West Chester in both the second and third periods that ended up being the game winners. Nick Schuck and Teriq Mapp found Marino early in the second, setting him up for the tying goal while the rest of the offense began to pick up pressure. It wasn’t until the start of the third when Marino scored his second off passes from Diquan Jackson and Eric Schwass.

Select Non-Conference Recaps:

Saturday, October 5

Lawrenceville Showcase Final Day

After Friday’s action, four teams reconvened at Loucks Ice Center to determine final standings for the second annual Lawrenceville Showcase. Seton Hall University started the day playing Central Connecticut State University, following the Blue Devils 4-0 loss the night prior, for third place while The College of New Jersey and Rider University played for silver and gold.

In the first game, the Pirates started slow and never truly recovered as they fell 9-1. The same defensive issues from the night prior re-appeared and worsened against a SECHL team looking to prepare for a conference match-up against Montclair State University the next day.

The Blue Devils racked up eight goals in the first two periods and Seton Hall struggled to answer. Despite only playing with nine nine forwards and three defensemen, the Pirates Jenson LaBrecque broke the clean sheet with his first goal for Pirates. The first year player is one of many new faces on the Hall team looking to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2015, and the group continued to fight in the face of the growing deficit. A response by CCSU before the final whistle gave Connecticut the bronze.

Next the two housemates of Loucks Ice Center met in the championship game as TCNJ and Rider battled for three periods. Both teams pushed hard for the win, hoping to improve their rankings in the ACHA Southeast Region, and the Broncs found the win, 2-0, in the third period.

Midway through, a long shot from the point made its way through traffic and into the upper netting past Mike Lojewski in goal. Despite letting in one more before the final horn, Lojewski performance was described as “incredible” by his coaches going for over 50 minutes against a high caliber offense and stopping 43 of 45 shots.

The Lions and Broncs trading shot leads in the first two periods as both defenses got tested. For Rider, a team that reached the ACHA Southeast Regional along with TCNJ, the win came from continued pressure. A shot through traffic and unconventional puck bounce come from continued attacks on net, while the CSCHC side it faced didn’t get those same opportunities.

The final standings for the showcase were 1) Rider, 2) TCNJ, 3) CCSU, and 4) Seton Hall.

Other Scores:

Friday, October 4

Millersville University (0) vs Rowan University (D3) (8)

 

Saturday, October 5

Drexel University (2) vs West Chester University (3)

            West Chester Goals:

            1) Trevor Yeager (Hunter Neiss)

            2) Alex Marino (PP) (Joshua Stephenson, Hunter Neiss)

            3) Alex Marino (2) (PP) (Hunter Neiss)

 

Princeton University (3) vs University of Pennsylvania (14) (CSCHC Game)

            Princeton Goals:

            1) Nicholas Cefalu (PP) (Kai Chong-Smith, Teague Tomesh)

            2) Nicholas Cefalu (2) (Charlie Van Allen)

            3) Mason Wasserman (PP) (Nicholas Cefalu, Kai Chong-Smith)

 

            UPenn Goals:

            1) Will Torgerson (Tyler Alfonzetti)

            2) Christian Rodriguez

            3) Christian Rodriguez (2) (Tyler Alfonzetti, Alan Burd)

            4) Brandon Labe (Alex Beckert)

            5) Ryan Collins (Alan Burd, Nicholas Eissler)

            6) Alex Beckert (PP) (  Christian Rodriguez, Brandon Labe)

            7) Jesse Davis (Jerry Xiang, Kevin Juan)

            8) Hayden Stephen (Jonas Toupal)

            9) Jonas Toupal (Ethan Abraham, Tyler McGoldrick)

            10) Tyler Alfonzetti  (Tyler McGoldrick, Will Torgerson)

            11) Jonas Toupal (2) (Hayden Stephen, Ethan Abraham)

            12) Alex Beckert (2) (Brandon Labe, Brett Rahbany)

            13) Will Torgerson (Tyler Alfonzetti)

            14) Tyler McGoldrick (Will Torgerson)

 

Sunday, October 6

The College of New Jersey (8) vs Princeton University (2) (CSCHC Game)

            TCNJ Goals:

            1) Kevin Broskie

            2) Logan Viducic 

            3) Anthony DeAlto

            4) Anthony DeAlto (2)

            5) Sean Leonard

            6) Kevin Broskie (2)

            7) Kris Hastings

            8) Kris Hastings (2)

 

            Princeton Goals:

            1) Kevin Foahur

            2) Mason Wasserman