BEVERLY, Mass. – The Neumann University men's ice hockey team dropped the opening game of the Endicott Holiday Invitational to the hosts from Endicott College 4-3.
 
Jory Mullin continued his fantastic play, leading the team with a goal and an assist. Shane Morrissey would register a goal and an assist of his own, while Shane Topf added the third tally for the Knights. Matt Gibney and and Anthony Pupplo combined for 30 saves in net in the loss.

Neumann would fall behind early, allowing a pair of goals in the game's opening five minutes for an early 2-0 deficit. The Knights would fight back at the end of the frame, as Mullin would tally his team-leading 17^th goal of the year with just 25 seconds to play in the period to go into the intermission down 2-1. Endicott would carry a 14-11 edge in shots heading to the break.

Following a similar script to the first period, Neumann would concede two more early goals in the second period to fall behind 4-1. Despite the three goal deficit, the Knights would not go quietly. Morrissey and Topf would score less than a minute apart late in the period to bring the Knights back to within one heading into the third. Neumann would outshoot the Gulls by a count of 17-11 in frame.

The final period would see the Knights continue to pepper the Endicott goal, but each attempt was thwarted by the Gulls goaltender. Neumann's best chance to tie the game came late in the period from Johannes Sallila, who saw his one-timer from the right face-off circle stopped by a fantastic post-to-post save by the Endicott net-minder. Despite a 17-9 edge in shots in the period and a 45-34 edge for the game, Neumann would fall to the Gulls by a score of 4-3.

Neumann will be right back in action tomorrow, playing the loser of the game between Plymouth State University and Tufts University in the consolation game of the tournament. Puck-drop is scheduled for 12:00 PM.