Men's Ice Hockey Picks Up First National Tournament Win over Northern Colorado

Pelham, AL – The Bryn Athyn College men's ice hockey team defeated Northern Colorado, 6-2 in the first game of the ACHA Division III National Tournament at the Pelham Civic Center Tuesday night.

Scott Witmyer and Terrence Johnson led the Lions with four points apiece. Witmyer scored two goals and had two assists.  Johnson notched three assists and one goal. Travis McCurdy scored one goal and recorded one assist.  Anthony Notofranceso added two assists, while Jayson Marbach tallied one goal.  

The Lions took control of the game early, with a goal from Johnson off a pass from Jennings and Witmyer at 7:57 into the first period.  Five minutes later at 12:34, McCurdy buried a loose puck in the crease off a Witmyer shot from the right circle.  With four minutes left in the first, Marbach scored from the goal line and beat the Bears' goalie five hole.

The UNC Bears scored their first goal a minute into the second period off a loose puck pick up in the neutral zone, while the Lions were on the power play.  Northern Colorado took control of the offensive zone, but strong defense by the Lions kept them from scoring.  Bryn Athyn came back on the attack and Jennings scored at 15:32, off a centering pass from Notofranceso, who blocked a clearing pass in the Bears defensive zone.  One minute later, Witmyer scored bar down off a pass from Anthony Astorino on the power-play.  With 30 seconds left in the second period, while short handed, Johnson blocked a shot on the blue line and Witmyer picked up the puck and beat the Bears' goalie glove side to take a 6-1 lead.

Bryn Athyn had a defensive mindset, controlling the neutral zone and not allowing Northern Colorado to get into a rhythm.  UNC scored the lone goal of the third at the 16:30 mark, but it wasn't enough to take down the Lions.

Witmyer expressed,'' Solid team win tonight! We had a strong defensive effort and it was a great way to open up the national tournament." 

Kyle Watters made 50 saves in net for Bryn Athyn.  

The Lions play UNC Wilmington tomorrow at 1:00 pm in the second game of the National Tournament.