Nov. 18, 2005

Box Score

 

The Neumann Knights men's ice hockey team hosted the 14^th ranked pioneers of Utica College in their first conference match up of the season, in men's hockey action at the Ice Works Quad Rinks in Aston, PA.

 

Neumann's Jesse Cole (Starford, ONT) earned his six, seventh, and eighth consecutive points of the season, scoring his first of three goals for Neumann in the second minute of this evening's Knights-Pioneers face off. Captains Neil Trimm and Mike Gooch were credited with the assist on the rookie's fifth goal of the season.

 

Utica didn't take favorably to Cole's goal. The Pioneers pressured the Knights drawing their first power play advantage of the period fourteen second later. Neumann did kill that attempt, but would allow the Pioneers a second shot when Kyle Casey was called for elbowing at 4:46. Utica's Bruce Dale was able to make the most of the extra man advantage on the second try, scoring at 5:51 into the period. However, it was the Neumann Knights who were on top going into the first intermission as Cole scored his second of the night, after receiving a pass from Neil Trimm and Casey allowing him to one time it past Utica net minder Adam Dakker at the 17:29 mark. Cole's goal at the 17:29 mark would be the eventual game winner and would give Cole his third multiple scoring game of his career.

 

"Jesse is doing very good things right now," said Knights second-year Head Coach, Dennis Williams. "My expectations were that he would put the puck in the net. He has the opportunity to play on the power play and is capitalizing. He is playing with a lot of confidence right now. Anytime you can have a freshman averaging a goal a game, he is doing something right for us."

 

Named as the second star of the game, Neumann's Mike Collichio was stellar in between the pipes for the Knights, stopping 41 of 42 shots blasted by the Pioneer's offense. Neumann was out shot (42-26) but not out scored, as Cole sealed the deal for the Knights scoring an insurance goal at 9:42 on a power play advantage caused by a charging penalty on Utica's Bryan Soboya.

Tonight's game not only marks the first win over Utica College for the Knights in program history, but also holds a little extra meaning for Coach Williams. Coach Williams served as an assistant under Utica Head Coach Gary Heenan before coming to Neumann two years ago. the two are good friends who spend considerable time together during the off season. Prior to tonight's match up the Knights were 0-7-1 overall against the Pioneers and 0-4 at home (0-1-1 under Williams). The 2005 Knights, now 1-0 in the ECAC West and 3-2 on the season, have earned the best season start on record after tonight's 3-1 win over 14^th ranked Utica College.

Neumann will try to extend their three game winning streak to four, tomorrow afternoon when they host #2 Manhattanville College at 4:00 p.m. at the Ice Works Quad Rinks in Aston, PA.