HERSHEY, Pa. – The Neumann University men's ice hockey team fell on the wrong side of a wild game on Saturday afternoon, dropping a 7-6 result to host Lebanon Valley College in United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC) action.
 
Joe Mitchell (2 g, 1 a) and Jake Davidson (1 g, 2 a) were the offensive catalysts on the afternoon for Neumann, each registering three points in the loss. Liam Board (2 a) and Ryan Swain (1 g, 1 a) recorded two points apiece, while Anthony Pupplo made 40 saves in goal.
 
After a spirited tie earlier this season in Aston, these teams were destined for another classic on Saturday afternoon. The Knights successfully killed three early Lebanon Valley power plays, but the Flying Dutchman finally broke through at the 15:57 mark of the first period to take a 1-0 lead. Neumann would respond though, knotting the game up at one with a goal from Davidson late in the period to send the game to intermission level at one apiece.
 
The second stanza would be one of the wildest periods of the season, as the two teams combined for nine goals. Lebanon Valley opened the scoring 27 seconds into the period, but the Knights responded just 20 seconds later as Clayton Boyd tallied to even the score once again. The Flying Dutchman retaliated with three unanswered goals to take a 5-2 lead, but Neumann would not quit. The Knights answered back with three of the game's next four goals in the final five minutes of the period to head to intermission down 6-5.
 
Neumann continued its comeback bid into the third period. The Knights killed off three more Flying Dutchman power-plays and excellent goaltending from Pupplo kept the team within striking distance. With under three minutes left to play, the stage was set for a dramatic finish. As time ticked down the Knights found an equalizer through an excellent individual effort from Mitchell to tie the game up at 6-6 at the 17:29 mark. Unfortunately for Neumann, the late game momentum would not last. Lebanon Valley scored just over a minute later and held on in the final minute to skate away with the 7-6 win.
 
Neumann (5-12-1, 5-4-1 UCHC) will look to bounce back next weekend when it finally returns home for two UCHC contests after an 11-game road trip. The Knights will take on Manhattanville College on Friday, January 26^th at 7:00 PM.