ASTON, Pa. - The Neumann University women's ice hockey team dropped its second game in as many days to visiting Utica College in Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) West action on senior day Saturday afternoon. Prior to the game the Knights honored seniors Kelly Fox and Grace Klienbach, who played their final home games for Neumann.

Sophomore defenseman Steph Grundy showed an offensive side to her game, tallying both of Neumann's goals on the afternoon. Julia Fair also played well in net, stopping 41 of 46 shots thrown her way in the loss.

Just like last night's matchup, it would be Neumann who would jump out to an early lead. Jordyn Cholish would win a face-off in the offensive zone and the puck would fall to the stick of Lauren Vanstone. Vanstone shoveled the puck to a waiting Grundy, who wristed a puck by the Pioneer goalie to put the Knights in front. Following the same script from last night though, Utica would answer midway through the period to level the game at one.

The Knights would apply pressure in the Pioneer end late in the period and would be awarded a power play with under four minutes to go in the frame. With the man-advantage freshman Jillian Crane would find an open Grundy again stationed at the point, and the defenseman fired home her second goal of the game to put the Knights back on top. The lead would be short lived though, as again Utica rallied back quickly. The Pioneers would respond with a tying goal just 46 seconds later to send the game to the first intermission tied at 2-2.

The second stanza featured a ton of shots and quality chances, but the deadlock would remain until late in the frame. Utica would outshoot the Knights by a count of 20-5 in the period and would finally be rewarded with a power play goal at the 18:24 mark. Neumann' best chance in the period came when Bek Lucas weaved her way through three Pioneer defenders en route to a breakaway chance that went just high and over the crossbar late in the period. The game would head to the third with Utica leading 3-2.
The Pioneers would continue their territorial dominance in the third period, making it hard for the Knights to stage a comeback. Utica would double up Neumann in shots in the period by a count of 14-7 and tack on two more goals to notch a 5-2 road win.

Neumann (6-14-3, 2-11-3 ECAC West) hits the road for its final two games of the season next weekend at Chatham University. Puck-drop on Friday, February 17th is scheduled for 5:30 PM.