Actually, the Blue Jays bolted to a 6-0 lead, but the point is the same. In that run, Epstein, Marr and Williams each scored a goal.
When Hopkins repulsed the Scarlet Knights’ push at the end of the first half, it was Epstein and Williams who provided the goals.
And when Rutgers finally closed within two on a couple occasions in the fourth quarter, who had the answers? Epstein (off a Williams feed) and Marr (off a faceoff win).
“I think we’re kind of finding ourselves, which is good,” Williams said. “Joey’s playing real well. He’s making a lot of shots, and Kyle’s making his shots, too. I think we’re starting to gel and it’s kind of at the perfect time in the Big Ten schedule.”
Brecht could be forgiven for sounding equal bits envious and exasperated. He discussed during the preseason and even this week about how new his team was, or at the very least different from what Rutgers had been the last year or two.
Much of that attitude is still in place — “that NASCAR offense, where it’s go, go, go,” as Pietramala described it — and it offers insight into how the Scarlet Knights deposited 10 goals in the second half and remained a threat to apply pressure on Hopkins until the final 30 seconds or so.
They just got started an hour late.
“Look at their knowns — their knowns had days,” Brecht said. “Epstein and Marr and Williams. Our knowns took a little while to get going, and we need a little more help from the supporting cast.”
Hopkins has won four out of five and six out of eight, a reversal from two frustrating losses to open the season. Pietramala wasn’t shy in late February about pointing out the foolhardiness of burying any team so early in the season.
As winter turned to spring, some facets of the Blue Jays improved. Faceoff man Kyle Prouty won 21 of 30 draws and had a goal and two assists. Goalie Ryan Darby had eight saves in the first half before Rutgers solved the Hopkins defense later in the game. Each of Hopkins’ first line midfielders contributed a point.
And — no small thing — the attack was at its most cohesive as the Blue Jays added another piece to their postseason resume.
“Everybody’s who kind of counted us out — and a lot of you have — this team has a lot of fight and a lot of guts and a lot of grit,” Pietramala said. “We’re far from perfect and we are very much a work in progress and need to show greater maturity in the fourth quarter. That’s been our problem the last few weeks. But we found a way to win and we got goals when we needed to get goals. Quite frankly, we got a stop or two when we needed to get a stop or two.”
As for Rutgers, it more than matched the Blue Jays in the second half. It just didn’t do enough early, again leaving it without traction. The Scarlet Knights have alternated two wins followed by two losses all season, and Saturday marked the third time they could deliver their first three-game winning streak of 2019.
“We started out Big Ten play like we had something to prove and then it was one game,” Brecht said. “Now we’re back to having to prove something again. We lost that edge.”