MIDDLEBURY, Vt. – The Neumann University men's ice hockey team fell in the consolation game of the Middlebury Invitational on Sunday afternoon, losing by a score of 4-2 to Saint Michael's College.

Ryan Swain notched a goal and an assist on the afternoon, while Corey Kennedy also scored for the Knights. Joe Mitchell was also a force for Neumann in the game, firing off 11 shots on goal and adding an assist. Sammy Bernard got the start in goal, making 29 saves in the loss.

After falling behind early in yesterday's game versus Oswego State, the Knights flipped the script and jumped out to an early 1-0 lead on Sunday. Midway through the first period Swain found the back of the net on a power play off assists from Thomas Mansbridge and Mitchell to put Neumann out in front. The game headed to intermission at the same score with Saint Michael's holding a 16-13 edge in shots.

Unfortunately for Neumann, the team's first period momentum would not last. Despite doubling up the Purple Knights in shots in the second stanza (12-6), Saint Michael's fought back with two goals of their own to take a 2-1 lead heading into the third.

Neumann continued to throw shots towards the Purple Knights goal in the third, but it would be Saint Michael's who found the game's next marker at the 8:32 mark of the period. Despite the two-goal deficit, Neumann fought hard to get back into the game. The Knights cut the lead in half with under four minutes left to play courtesy of a goal from Kennedy, but it was as close as the team would get. Saint Michael's added an empty-netter in the game's final minute to seal the 4-2 win.

Neumann (4-7-1) returns to the ice next weekend when it heads to New York for a pair of non-conference games at Buffalo State. Puck-drop on Friday, January 5^th is scheduled for 7:00 PM.