Home Opener vs Rider University Results in Overtime
- Montclair, NJ
The Red Hawks had their home opener of the 2025-2026 season on Saturday, September 20th at 8 pm, facing the Rider University Broncos. The team was looking to bounce back after losing its first two games of the season to West Chester University and Misericordia University.
During the first period, both the Red Hawks and the Broncos had two minor penalties. Seven minutes and fifty-five seconds into the first period, #22 Braden Ryan scored the first point for the Red Hawks. It would not be until the last seconds of the first period that #29 Joel Schriver would score for the Broncos. At the end of the first period, the score was tied at 1-1.
The second period was in the Red Hawks' favor. Not even five minutes into the period, #7 Ray Goetz scored, then #24 Ryan Targove would soon follow with an assisted goal by #10 Lucas Longo. The Broncos continued to rack up penalties in their effort to stop the Red Hawk offense. Rider would eventually score with four minutes left in the period due to a goal scored by #7 Ryan Kenna. At the end of the second period, the score would be Montclair State leading 4-2.
The third period was in the Broncs' favor. In less than ten minutes, the Broncos were able to score two power-play goals. #74 Alex Blaszak and #6 Vladystav Zubriiuchuk were responsible for those two power-play goals. Along with that, their teammates #19 John Connelly and #11 Bradean Macainish would score single-handed goals. Despite Rider having the lead halfway into the third period, the Red Hawks would not let that slide. With thirty seconds left on the clock, #38 Eric Kios scored for the Red Hawks. Due to a cross-checking penalty for the Broncos, the Red Hawks were given a chance to take a penalty shot on the Rider goalie, #34 Louis Bizzoco. With five seconds left on the clock, the Red Hawks sent #13 Michael Sadowski to take the shot. The attempt was successful and, by the end of the third period, both teams were tied 6-6.
It all came down to overtime. Would the Red Hawks secure the first win of the season on their home ice, or would the Broncos secure the first win of the season in Red Hawk Country? The Red Hawks went into overtime with #47 Jaxon Call from the Broncos still serving his time in the penalty box for cross-checking. With one man down on the Broncos, Red Hawk #22 Braden Ryan took advantage of that. He scored an overtime goal for the Red Hawks with one minute and forty-five seconds into overtime. The Red Hawks won their home opener 7-6!! The Red Hawks are now 1-2 on the season.
This upcoming Friday, September 26th, the Red Hawks will be on the road facing the Binghamton University BearCats. The next home game will be Friday, October 3rd, at 8:30 pm, where the Red Hawks will take on the University of Delaware Blue Hens.
