News

Entering Saturday, the Pirates found themselves in the middle of a 3 game skid, dropping both games the prior weekend and being stunned the night before by Monmouth. Before the game Saturday night, the team held a players only meeting, hoping to right the ship. Coming into the defending champions arena and winning would be no easy task.

TCNJ jumped out to an early lead. Scoring in the first 3 minutes of the game. A point shot was tipped in the slot, and beat Francois low to give the Lions a 1-0 lead. Unlike the night before, the Pirates responded. Building on each shift, the Prates would begin to press the Lions. The Pirates would finally find the back of the net when sophomore sensation Ben Bala walked in and fired a blast by the outstretched goaltender, the power play goal would tie the game up at 1-1. The teams would continue to trade goals. ending the first with a score of 2-2.

Throughout the game, powerplays would turn out to be crucial, as both teams would find the back of the net with the man advantage. The Pirates penalty kill would come up big as the game reached the 3rd. Junior goaltender Austin Francois would be the deference in the game, facing a total of 66 shots, 24 in the third alone. The Pirates would find themselves down by 1 half way through the 3rd. Again the powerplay would come up big, as Senior captain Charlie Mule would find a loose puck and finish the equalizer, 5-5.

The game would tighten up as time dwindled down. With a minute left, the Pirates found themselves in the Lions zone, looking to take the game. A quick passing play by Mule found Beuk Forrest at the point for a shot. Through a maze of people, a rebound squirted out of the pack, and found Bala jumping down from the point, and the sophomore buried the game winner, as the bench erupted. The Pirates would hold off the Lions in the final :40 seconds, and mobbed goaltender Francois as the buzzer sounded.

" We needed to respond " Head Coach Meixsell commented after the game. " We knew coming in that this game would be a tough one, and if we came out like we have been lately, they could walk all over us ". 

The Pirates response was in key part to the play of goaltender Austin Francois, who would pick up his first win of the year. " Hes finally feeling comfortable, tonight was big for his confidence ". Goaltending coach Mike Haggerty stated about his junior goaltender's game. Francois was injured in the preseason,and had missed the teams first 4 games.

The Pirates will look to build on the upset win Friday as Millersville comes to Richard J Codey Arena, to take on the Pirates at 9:45

Come out and support your Pirates!!