Kutztown University pulled off a major upset Saturday night, defeating visiting Fordham 4-3 at The Campus behind a spectacular 49-save performance from goaltender Caleb Dinsdale. The Golden Bears (5-15) snapped a difficult stretch by knocking off the Rams (9-5), who entered the contest having won nine of their first 13 games this season.
Liam O’Neill led the offensive charge for Kutztown with a goal and an assist, building on his solid recent form that has seen him collect eight points in just six games this season. The Golden Bears received balanced scoring from four different players, with Matt Dann, Chase Canestra, and Matt Flynn each finding the back of the net. Griffin Carpenter continued his strong season with two assists, extending his team-leading point total to 17 in 11 games played.
Fordham’s high-powered offense, which had been clicking at a strong pace through 13 games, was stymied by Dinsdale’s heroics despite outshooting Kutztown 52-45. Anthony Kulp orchestrated the Rams’ attack with three assists, while Carmine Pittelli and Andrew Carlson each contributed a goal and an assist. Calum Haslam added a goal for Fordham, but Julian Melendez’s 41 saves weren’t enough to prevent the upset.
The victory marked a significant turnaround for Kutztown, which had dropped a 5-3 decision to these same Rams back on November 8th. With Chase Canestra entering the game as the team’s leading scorer with 28 points in 15 games, the Golden Bears showed they could compete with quality opponents when Dinsdale stood tall between the pipes. The stunning upset sends a message that no lead is safe in ECHC play, even for a Fordham squad that had established itself as one of the conference’s top teams early this season.