UTICA, N.Y. – The Neumann University men's ice hockey team suffered its first loss of the season, 5-2, at No. 13/14 Utica College on Friday evening. The game opened Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) West action for both teams.
 
The Pioneers scored the lone goal of the first period on the power play at the 5:49 mark.
 
Johannes Sallila tied the game at one with a goal on the man-advantage 2:44 into the second period. Nick Perruccio and Sam House tallied the assists. Utica scored two goals in a 33 second span midway through the second to take a 3-1 lead.
 
The Pioneers scored their fourth goal 4:32 into the third period for a 4-2 score. The Knights netted their second goal just over a minute later as Connor Annett scored his first goal of the season. Matt Gerber and Jory Mullin had the assists. With the Knights goalie pulled, Utica scored an empty net, shorthanded goal with 1:49 left in regulation to seal the win.
 
Matt Gibney made 32 saves in net for the Knights.
 
Neumann (2-1, 1-0 ECAC West) will look for its first conference win tomorrow when it hits the ice against Nazareth. The puck is slated to drop at 4:00 PM.


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