MIDDLEBURY, Vt. – After a three-week layoff for the holiday break, the Neumann University men's ice hockey team returned to action on Saturday afternoon, falling by a score of 6-2 to third-ranked Oswego State on the opening day of the Middlebury Invitational.

Chris Ordoobadi scored both goals for Neumann, while Connor Annett, Clayton Boyd, Richie Brusco and Tommy Dougherty added assists. Anthony Pupplo got the start in goal, stopping 48 shots in the loss.

The Knights showed some rust from the long break early on, conceding three first period goals to fall behind 3-0 after one. The Lakers out-shot Neumann by a count of 19-7 in the frame.

Neumann looked to get back into the game in the second stanza, but a fourth Laker goal just two minutes into the period pushed the game even further out of reach. Despite the goal, the Knights fought back for the remainder of the frame. Using three power plays late in the period, Neumann generated a few quality scoring chances and got on the board with a goal at the 15:15 mark. Boyd gathered a loose puck behind the Oswego State net and fired a perfect pass into the slot to Ordoobadi, who ripped a shot past the Laker net-minder to make it 4-1. The game headed to intermission at the same score with Oswego State carrying a 34-13 advantage in shots.

The Knights looked to continue their comeback in the final period of play, but two early Laker goals sealed the convincing win for Oswego State. Ordoobadi added a consolation tally with two minutes left to play, but the game would finish 6-2 in favor of the Lakers. Oswego State also finished with a 54-18 edge in shots.

Neumann (4-6-1) is right back in action tomorrow afternoon when it takes on St. Michael's College in the consolation game of the Middlebury Invitational. Puck-drop is scheduled for 1:00 PM.