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(Freshman D-man Aiden Cox scored his first ACHA goal in Friday night's game.  - Photo by Dan Dreisbach)

- Montclair, NJ

The Red Hawks were desperately looking to reverse the losing streak that started way back on October 6th.  From that point, they faced the SECHL gauntlet in three consecutive weeks of back to back games.  After almost pulling off an upset of two time league champ, Army, MSU then had to play back to back games versus another powerhouse, Clarkson.  The advantage the Red Hawks possessed, you ask?  This season it was Clarkson who had to play after a seven hour bus ride from Potsdam, NY right on the Canadian border.  MSU took advantage of this in game one, with Anthony Oliveri scoring late in the 1st to take a lead they wouldn't relinquish.   Will Neal scored his first of two, and Antonio Crispino added tallies in the 2nd to give the Red Hawks a three goal lead to protect in the 3rd.  Clarkson fought back 2:04 into the final period when Evan Collette made it interesting by cutting the lead to 3-1.  MSU was now faced with the same lead they carried into the 3rd versus Army just a week ago, which they were unable to hold.  Will Neal had other thoughts; burying his second of the game with 1:33 remaining.  Freshman, Aiden Cox added an empty netter to seal the deal with his first collegiate goal with only :22 seconds left.  MSU broke the losing streak defeating a strong opponent.

The game two matinee featured a Clarkson squad with a full night's rest, and the game was a much tighter affair.  This time Clarkson jumped out to an early lead, scoring two goals in the first 6 minutes of the 1st.  Billy Parsley cut the lead in half a little over three minutes later on the power play.  The game was looking very similar to last week's blowout by Army.  But MSU had different plans.  In the 2nd period, on another power play, Parsley found the back of the net again to tie the game.  Unfortunately, a late period breakdown in the D zone gave Clarkson a 3-2 lead going into the 3rd.  The Red Hawks came out in the period with a strong determination and were able to once again tie the game when Braden Ryan went top shelf at 3:26.  Unfortunately, MSU was once again on the wrong side of a ref's decision on a goal scored with the net off its pegs.  Ironically, its usually a Red hawk goal being disallowed... but this time it was a Clarkson goal being allowed even with the net off its moorings. Clarkson was able to hold on for the 4-3 win, salvaging a split for their long bus ride back north.

While taking both games would have been preferable for the Red Hawks, knowing that next week doesn't get any easier with a home and home versus Siena, but it proved a point that was established last week in their 3-2 loss to Army.  That point is that this Red Hawks team can compete with any team in the SECHL.  A fact that comes, however, with a caveat.  That is that they can't let up for 60 minutes.  They can't give up when they face adversity.  And finally, they need to believe in themselves.  Keep playing like this and they could be the team that goes into the playoffs and shocks a few other teams.  Next weekend could be the next step to becoming a team that others worry about meeting in the postseason!