REISTERSTOWN, Md. – The Neumann University men's ice hockey team continued its winning ways in United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC) play, picking up a hard-fought 2-1 road victory over rival Stevenson University on Friday evening.

Sophomore goalie Anthony Pupplo was the hero in the win, making 49 saves on 50 shots to pick up the win in goal. The Knights received goals from Chris Ordoobadi and Liam Board, and assists from Thomas Mansbridge, Eric Madison, Ryan Swain and Jake Davidson.

The opening period of play would feature all the scoring on the evening. In a penalty filled first frame, Stevenson got the scoring started short-handed at the 7:51 mark to jump out in front 1-0. From there it would be all Knights the rest of the period.

Ordoobadi flipped the game's momentum when he gained the Stevenson zone and ripped a puck past the Mustang goaltender to knot the game up at one apiece at the 14:13 mark. Board followed that up with a power-play goal of his own three minutes later to put Neumann in front by a score of 2-1 headed to the first intermission. The goal was Board's sixth of the season, which ties him for the team lead with Swain.

As the game headed to the second stanza, Pupplo would need to be at his best. The sophomore goaltender was outstanding in the period, making 21 saves to keep the Knights in front. Despite a 21-13 edge in shots for the Mustangs, the game headed to the third with Neumann clinging to a one-goal advantage.

The final period of play would be a test of grit and resolve for Neumann. After a major penalty was called on the Knights, the team was forced to kill off a five-minute Stevenson power-play. With Pupplo being the team's best penalty-killer, Neumann kept the Mustangs at bay and successfully killed off the penalty to hold onto the one-goal lead. Another late Stevenson power-play caused a bit of concern for Neumann, but the Knights' penalty killers were again fantastic and kept the Mustangs off the board. The team would get outshot by a count of 17-3 in the third, but held on to win and pick up a huge two points in the UCHC standings.

With the win, the Knights now move into first place in the conference. Neumann (4-3-1, 4-1-1 UCHC) has the rest of the weekend off before hitting the road next weekend for a pair of games at Nazareth College and Utica College. Puck-drop at Nazareth on Friday, December 8^th is scheduled for 7:00 PM.