ASTON, Pa. – The Neumann University women's ice hockey team continued its winning ways on Friday evening, picking up a 3-1 win over visiting Manhattanville College in the team's first ever United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC) game.

Katelyn Brown tallied the game-winner for Neumann, while also adding an assist. Bek Lucas and Sammy Patrick also scored for the Knights, who received outstanding goaltending from Helen Cooney (43 saves).

The bulk of the opening period of play was spent in the Neumann end, with Manhattanville generating several early chances. Despite the early pressure, it would be the Knights who created the best opportunity of the period, as Lucas snapped a shot off the crossbar with just over three minutes left to go in the first frame. The Valiants responded with a late chance of their own, but with 30 seconds left to play in the period, Cooney slid post to post to make a tremendous save to keep the game scoreless as the game headed to intermission. The sophomore net-minder was at her best in the game's first 20 minutes, making 18 saves to keep Neumann in the game.

The Knights rallied for a much better second stanza. Using several Manhattanville penalties to their advantage, Neumann broke through at the 6:34 mark of the frame, as Lucas scored her team-leading sixth goal of the season to put the Knights in front 1-0. Neumann outshot the Valiants by a count of 12-10 in the period and headed to the third with the one goal advantage.

Manhattanville opened the third desperate to tie the game. The Valiants peppered the Neumann cage with shots, but Cooney continued to be a brick wall for the Knights. Her best save of the period came at the 16:55 mark, when she made a marvelous glove save to keep Neumann in front. Despite Cooney's best efforts though, Manhattanville would tie the game up on a power play at the 8:49 mark to set up a wild finish.

With the game tied late, the Knights' turned to the top line of Brown, Lucas and Jackie Schneider again. After Steph Grundy cleared the puck out of the Neumann zone, Schneider raced down ice and flipped a perfect saucer pass to a streaking Brown who tipped the puck by the Manhattanville goalie to give the Knights a 2-1 lead with just over five minutes left to play. The Valiants pressed hard to get an equalizer late, but with their goalie pulled for an extra attacker, Patrick iced the game with an empty-netter to seal the 3-1 win.

Neumann (3-1-1, 1-0-0 UCHC) will look to win its fourth straight game tomorrow when it takes on Manhattanville in the second of its two game weekend series. Puck-drop is scheduled for 2:00 PM.