The Neumann University women's ice hockey team battled to a hard-fought 4-4 tie at SUNY Potsdam on Friday night in Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) West action.

Much like last weekend, the Knights dynamic duo of Grace Klienbach and Bek Lucas were the difference makers for Neumann. The pair recorded six points on the evening as Klienbach notched a pair of goals and an assist, while Lucas tallied a goal and two assists. Julia Fair stood tall in net, making 41 saves in the tie.

Neumann would control play early on, taking the play to the Bears in the opening period. The Knights would see their strong play rewarded with a Klienbach goal at the 12:49 mark to give the team the early lead. After serving a penalty, Klienbach left the box and found a beautiful outlet pass from Lucas to put her in on a breakaway. The senior forward rifled the puck past the Bears goalie to put the Knights out in front. Neumann wasn't finished in the first though, as Lucas would score with just 27 seconds left in the period to give the team a 2-0 lead heading into the first intermission.

The second period would start just like the first, with the Knights on the front foot. With Neumann on the penalty kill early in the period, Klienbach tallied her second goal of the game shorthanded on another breakaway to make it 3-0 in favor of the visitors.  Unfortunately for the Knights, the remainder of the period would be all Potsdam. The Bears seized control of the play and scored three times in the period to knot the game up 3-3 heading into the third.

Despite giving up the three goal lead, Neumann responded early in the third by generating two early power plays and creating several quality opportunities. The Knights could not solve the Bears goaltender though, and the game remained tied late into the period. Both teams pressed hard to break the tie but it was Potsdam who took the lead with just over five minutes remaining. Many teams may have folded after conceding such a late goal against, but the Knights rallied right away, tying the game up just a minute later on a shot from the point by Halle Crane to once again tie the game. Each team would have a few chances to win the game late, but the contest would head to overtime knotted up at 4-4.

Just like the end of regulation, both teams saw opportunities to win the game in the extra session but neither team would find the back of the net. Fair came up big with seven saves in overtime to preserve the 4-4 tie and a precious point in the tight ECAC West standings.

Neumann (6-7-1, 2-4-1 ECAC West) is right back on the ice tomorrow for the second game of its two-game series versus Potsdam. Puck-drop is scheduled for 1:00 PM.