OAK BLUFFS, Mass. - The Neumann University men's ice hockey team lost in heart-breaking fashion in the opening game of the Martha's Vineyard Classic on Friday evening, falling in overtime to tournament host Salve Regina University by score of 2-1.
 
Joe Mitchell recorded Neumann's lone goal of the night, while Sammy Bernard was fantastic in goal, stopping 40 of 42 shots he faced in the loss.
 
Playing their eighth consecutive game away from home, the Knights looked to get back into the win column after a six-game slide. Neumann started strong, generating the game's first four power plays in the opening period. Despite the man-advantages though, the Knights could not break through with a goal. Using momentum from the killed penalties, Salve Regina scored the period's only goal at the 16:23 mark to take a 1-0 lead into intermission.
 
Needing a spark in the second stanza, the Knights came out of the break with a jump in their step. Mitchell scored unassisted three minutes into the period to knot the contest up at 1-1 and set up a closely contested final two periods of play. Salve Regina responded with their best play late in the second period but excellent goaltending from Bernard kept the score tied. The Seahawks outshot the Knights 16-7 in the period but the game headed to the third tied at one apiece.
 
Down two men to start the third period, Neumann used an excellent 5-on-3 penalty kill to keep the game tied. The Knights' penalty killing was a strength all game long, as the team finished the contest by killing off all six of Salve Regina's power-play's. Both teams created chances late to win the game in regulation, but neither could find the back of the net as they headed to overtime.
 
After two periods of being stonewalled by Bernard, the Seahawks were finally able to get a puck by the Knights' netminder in the extra session. Salve Regina scored at the 3:05 mark to skate away with the 2-1 overtime victory. Shots for the game finished 43-21 in favor of the Seahawks.
 
Neumann (4-10-1) will look to regroup for tomorrow's matchup versus Curry College. Puck-drop is scheduled for 4:00 PM at Salve Regina.