Dec. 10, 2005
Aston, PA-The Neumann Knights men's ice hockey team defeated the Blue Devils of SUNY Fredonia 7-4 in the second of the home and home, non conference series, Saturday afternoon.
The Knights opened the afternoon with a back door goal at the 3:55 mark scored by Donavan Hall, assisted by Stewart Sjoberg and Jeff Nuttall. Fredonia brought the score to the level when Kyle Bozoian took a wrist shot past starting goaltender Brett Leonhardt, who had 29 saves on the day, making it a 1-1 game going into the first intermission.
Neumann opened the second stanza with three consecutive goals. Freshman Jesse Cole scored his first of an eventual hat trick against the Blue Devils at the 2:30 mark. Erik Stoyanvich and Dayne Bihn were credited with the assist on Cole's goal. Neil Trimm then took advantage of an open back door, left by Fredonia net minder Rick Gazares, on a Knights power-play for the 3-1 lead. Neumann's Cole later sought some assistance from freshman defender Doug Slipacoff, at the 16:41 mark, working through two defenders for the 4-1 advantage. Fredonia then took full advantage of a man up opportunity, working a front of the net scramble in which the puck was pushed across the line for the second goal Blue Devils goal of the afternoon at 18:36.
SUNY Fredonia seemed to find their skate in the start of the third stanza scoring two back to back goals 24 seconds apart making it a 4-4 battle. Neumann, feeling the pressure, quickly responded with the game winner, a Mike Hedden short handed goal on a low angle shot; his second of the season at the 1:55 mark. Neumann then added two more goals to end the game 7-4. Jesse Cole recorded his second hat trick of the season after scoring the Knights second power-play goal of the day at the 11:03 mark. Kyle Casey sealed the deal for the Knights scoring at 16:55. Today's win gives the Knights their 8th win of the season and 6th victory against teams in the SUNYAC.
Neumann will return to action Friday and Saturday, December 30-31, at the St. Michaels Tournament in Colchester, Vermont.
