MARA LEADS PIONEERS TO VICTORY OVER MARIST AND WCSU
The Pioneers faced-off against two league opponents and needed four points to keep their first place seeding. Senior Assistant Captain Ryan Mara (Sewell, NJ) led the way with a hat-trick against Marist and four points against WCSU. On Friday night vs. the Marist Red Foxes, the it was a back and forth game as the team traded goals and Power Plays. Late in the third period, Ryan Mara converted on the Power Play to give the Pioneers a 4-3 lead. The Pioneers penalty killing would come up large to keep the lead and forward Andrew Niedzwiecki added a goal late to seal the game at 5-3. Coach Ballance commented, "the guys battled through adversity, took some dangerous hits and rallied their way to victory. We controlled our emotions and focused on the task at hand and earned the two points". Freshman Goaltender Jordan Hulahan stopped 30 of 33 shots on the night as the Pioneers outshot the Red Foxes 60-33.
On Saturday, the Pioneers came out fast and shooting often as they netted four first period goals on 21 shots against WCSU. Captain Matt Hunter (Thunder Bay, Ontario) led the team with 5 points, followed by Assistant Captain Ryan Mara (Sewell, NJ) with 4 points, Assistant Captain Kyle Garlasco (Paramus, NJ) with 3 points, and forward Rich Pallai (Yorktown Heights, NY) also with 3 points. The Apidopolous brother's Mark and Adam (Paramus, NJ) both added two points as Goaltender Gary Schoeppler was solid stopping 22 of 24 shots on the night. The Pioneers would go on to outshoot the Colonials 86-24.
Come support your Pioneers this weekend at home as they take on #15 ranked Northeast opponent Sacred Heart on Friday night at 8:45 pm and the Southeast ranked #5 Penn State on Saturday at 2:00 PM.
