NEWARK, NJ - Playing in just their second ever game, the Yeshiva ice hockey team defeated ACHA veterans the New Jersey Institute of Technology, taking down the Highlanders by a score of 8-6 on Sunday, Feb. 4.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• After a galvanizing pregame speech by coach Adam Carlo, the Maccabees wasted no time making their presence felt, with captain Sol Feder firing off an early point shot to give Yeshiva a 1-0 lead. Feder wasn't done, and looking to keep the pressure on he continued launching shots at the NJIT cage, rocketing in another goal off of a power-play assisted by assistant captain Yosef Tropp.
   
• Continuing to push ever further, assistant captain Ariel Greenberg, responsible for the first goal in Macs history, stole the show, swiping the puck and turning on the jets for a breakaway shorthanded goal, giving Yeshiva a 3-0 lead entering the first intermission.
   
• Despite the early advantage, the contest became tight in the second period, with NJIT turning up the heat and bombarding goaltender Matthew Loren. Yet the New Rochelle native stood firm, making point-blank saves to keep Yeshiva on top.
   
• While the Highlanders finally got a couple of shots past Loren to stem the bleeding, Yeshiva continued to demonstrate their control of the contest. Needing a tally to widen out their lead again, a Greenberg pass was deflected to the point where Tropp wired in his first-career goal.
   
• Securing YU's first ever hattrick, Feder blasted home another, this time from Yonah Suissa, making it a 5-2 game . As Yeshiva began to relax however, NJIT took the opportunity to close in, drawing within one at 5-4 entering the third period.
   
• Kicking off a goal-fest in the final frame, Feder came through with a man-advantage missile after another smooth feed from Tropp. However, NJIT answered with two quick ones, tying the game at six.
   
• It was then that the YU captain called his own number. Feder grabbed the puck in the neutral zone, powered through the defense, and scored a jaw-dropping goal while practically airborne. With less than seven minutes left, the tide turned back in Yeshiva's favor, as Sol's goal secured them a 7-6 advantage.
   
• NJIT desperately pushed for an equalizer, yetthe Macs remained composed and focused. Loren stepped up with clutch stops, finishing with 29 saves before the team's ultimate warrior was rewarded for his toughness. Despite suffering an injury earlier in the game, Jacob Diner refused to sit out. The Montreal man returned and sealed the deal with an empty-net goal, sending Yeshiva's bench into a wild celebration.

 
UP NEXT
Coming back into New York, the Macs will face off against The City College of New York on Tuesday, Feb. 6 at 8:30 PM.