ASTON, Pa. – Playing its first home game in over two months, the Neumann University men's ice hockey team fell in Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) West action to visiting Utica College by a score of 5-4.
Ryan Luiten and
Joe Mitchell paced the Knights offensively with a goal and an assist apiece, while
Jake Davidson and
Matt Zendejas also tallied goals.
Matt Gibney got the start in goal, making 40 saves in the loss.
Eager to see their men's hockey team play its first home game since November, Neumann fans packed the rink for the conference showdown. Fans were also entertained by the Neumann Ice Hockey Pep Band, who provided a fun environment throughout the game with some great music. The Knights would look to use the energy in the building to their advantage early, generating eight of the game's first ten shots. Neumann's early pressure would result in a power play, but despite several quality scoring chances the Knights could not find the back of the net. Utica would use momentum from the killed penalty to grab control of the game. Using three Neumann penalties to their advantage in the latter half of the period, the Pioneers would score twice to take a 2-0 lead into the first intermission.
The second period would see the Knights battle their way back into the game. In a back and forth period where both teams created plenty of chances, it was Neumann who would capitalize. Momentum shifted to the Knights after a fantastic shift midway through the stanza by the line of
Shane Topf,
Johannes Sallila and
Nick Perruccio. The trio would not find the back of the net, but kept Utica hemmed in their own zone for over a minute while notching several shots on goal. The following shift the Knights would break through, as Luiten banged home his own rebound to make it 2-1. Neumann would continue to apply pressure in the Pioneers end and would be rewarded again on a power play just three minutes later. Davidson ripped home a shot from the point to knot the game up at two headed to the third period.
Neumann began the final frame much like it opened the game. The Knights would tally the period's first nine shots, but unfortunately came up empty. Despite all the Neumann chances, Utica would respond with a counter-punch, scoring a goal on the team's first shot of the period to take a 3-2 lead. The Pioneers were not done there though, as they notched a fourth goal just 26 seconds later to give themselves a two-goal cushion. Neumann fought valiantly the remainder of the period to get back into the game and would get back to within a goal after Mitchell scored at the 16:11 mark to make it 4-3. The Knights would pull their goalie late in an effort to tie the game up, but Utica would score an empty-netter to seal the win. Zendejas would find the back of the net for Neumann with just eight seconds left to play, but it was too little, too late as the Knights would fall 5-4.
Neumann (11-6-2, 3-5 ECAC West) is right back in action tomorrow afternoon with another ECAC West matchup versus Nazareth College. Puck-drop is slated for 4:00 PM.
