Warwick, Pa. – The Bryn Athyn College Men's Ice Hockey team took down number one California University of Pa. 4-3 in dramatic fashion, the first game of the Empire Classic.
Billy Reilly led the team and scored one goal and one assist. He was followed by Jayson Marbach, scoring one goal and one assist. Kyle Jennings also added one crucial goal. Paul Napierkowski scored one goal and Justin Nugent helped the cause with two assists as well as Sean Feyler with one assist.
Reilly started the scoring at the 11:05 mark to put the Lions on the board, off a tipped pass from Jordan Roth. Bryn Athyn kept the Vulcans scoreless going into the first intermission.
Napierkowski scored the second goal for the Lions from top of the blue line, off a left side pass from Marbach. Jennings added to the scoring with three minutes left in the second period off a tipped crease pass from Reilly.
Vulcans came out in the third period scoring two goals in the first ten minutes, to bring the game within one. Marbach sniped the game-winning goal from the left side off a loose neurtral zone puck with 9:41 left the game. CalU scored four minutes later to bring the game within one, but wasn't enough to take down the Lions.
Kyle Watters made 32 saves in net for Bryn Athyn.
Coach Andrew Burke had these remarks about the win, "Great team win tonight. Our team answered the challenge and played well defensively. Everyone pulled their weight and made a diligent effort in the win. We have a quick turn-a-round to tomorrow games, but we are excited about going up 1-0 this weekend. "
The Lions return to the ice tomorrow at 4:15 to take on #8 Farmingdale State in the second game of the Empire Classic.
Photo Credit: Fredrik Bryntesson