ASTON, Pa. – After suffering a defeat in its season opener last night, the Neumann University women's ice hockey team responded with a spirited effort this afternoon in a 4-4 tie versus visiting SUNY Cortland.

The Knights top line of Bek Lucas (2 goals, 1 assist), Katelyn Brown (1 goal, 2 assists) and Jackie Schneider (1 goal, 1 assist) combined for eight points on the day to carry the team's offense. Helen Cooney was excellent in goal, making 45 saves in the draw.

Disappointed in last night's result, Neumann came out flying from the first shift. Off the opening faceoff, the Knights got the puck right into the Cortland end and went to work. After some nice passing the puck found its way to Lucas, who snapped home the game's opening goal to give Neumann an early 1-0 lead.

The early momentum would not last though, as the bulk of the play would shift to the Neumann end for the remainder of the period. The Knights would be outshot by a count of 17-6 in the first frame, but thanks to fantastic goaltending from Cooney the game headed to the first intermission with Neumann up 1-0.

Cortland continued to apply pressure in the Neumann end early in the second stanza and were rewarded with a tying goal on a power play just 1:34 into the period. Neumann would steady itself after the goal though and began to find its skating legs as the period reached its midpoint. Just over ten minutes into the frame, the Knights top line would strike again. Brown found Lucas on a 2-on-1 and the senior forward back-handed a puck past the Red Dragons net-minder to put Neumann back in front 2-1.

The see-saw battle continued as the period neared an end. Cortland scored at the 16:30 mark to knot the game up, but the Knights went back in front a minute and a half later off a goal from Brown. The freshman forward tipped in a Sammy Patrick shot from the point to make it 3-2 Knights heading to the third and final period.

Needing a goal to tie, Cortland came out on fire to start the third period and found the tying goal just 1:52 after intermission. With the game tied, the Red Dragons kept their foot on the pedal and got another goal six minutes later to take a 4-3 lead with 12:42 left to play in the game. Undiscouraged, Neumann kept fighting and found an equalizer late in the game. With under three minutes left to play, Schneider banged home a rebound off a Lucas shot to tie the game at four. The Knights nearly won at the buzzer, but both Schneider and Lucas had attempts stopped by the Cortland goalie as time expired.

Each team drew a power-play in overtime, but despite the man-advantages for both teams, neither team would find the back of the net. The game would end in a 4-4 tie, with Cortland holding a 49-30 edge in shots.

Neumann (0-1-1) returns to the ice next Friday, November 3^rd when it heads to the Commonwealth Cup hosted by Chatham University. The Knights will square off against King's College at 7:00 PM.