Carmine Pittelli delivered a masterclass performance Friday night at Ice Hutch, recording his first hat trick of the season and tallying six points to lead Fordham to a 6-4 victory over Sacred Heart in ECHC action. The dynamic forward, who entered the contest with 20 goals and 44 points in 18 games, added three goals and three assists to his impressive campaign as the Rams improved to 12-5 on the season.
Pittelli wasn’t alone in putting up video game numbers, as linemate Anthony Kulp dazzled with a five-point effort of his own, contributing one goal and four assists. Kulp, who came into the game averaging better than two points per contest with 40 points in 17 games, continued his torrid pace alongside the red-hot Pittelli. Tommy Macina also had a stellar night with two goals and two assists for four points, while Danny Koehler found the back of the net twice in the high-scoring affair.
The offensive explosion was a welcomed sight for Fordham after goalkeeper Daniel Gerts was tested early and often, facing 75 shots from a determined Sacred Heart squad. Gerts stood tall when it mattered most, making 68 saves for a .907 save percentage to preserve the victory. The Rams’ balanced attack saw seven different players register at least one point, with Bobby Rotondo and Christian Soropoulos each contributing a goal and an assist.
Despite the loss, Sacred Heart (9-6) showed resilience in generating significant offensive pressure throughout the contest, outshooting Fordham considerably but unable to solve Gerts enough to complete what would have been a stunning comeback. The victory keeps Fordham in strong position within the ECHC standings as both teams continue their push toward the postseason.