BUFFALO, N.Y. – The Neumann University men's ice hockey team dropped a close non-conference matchup versus host Buffalo State by a score of 5-3 on Friday evening.

The Knights were led on the night by seniors Liam Board and Jake Davidson, who each registered a goal and an assist. Chris Ordoobadi also scored for Neumann, while Anthony Pupplo made 23 saves in goal in the loss.

Neumann could not have asked for a better start to the road contest. Board opened the scoring just 44 seconds into play to put the Knights on top 1-0. That would be the final positive play of the period however, as Buffalo State retaliated with three unanswered goals to take a 3-1 lead into the first intermission.

The two-goal deficit would not deter the Knights in the second, as the team rallied back to tie the game. Davidson got the second stanza scoring started at the 7:11 mark of the period, scoring short-handed to make it 3-2. Ordoobadi then tied the contest six minutes later off a feed from Chris Caldwell to send the game to the second intermission tied at three apiece. Neumann outshot Buffalo State 19-14 through two periods of play.

The Bengals killed any Neumann momentum early in the third though, scoring just over a minute into the period to retake the lead at 4-3. Buffalo State would then tack on an insurance marker six minutes later to seal the 5-3 win. Shots for the game finished 28-24 in favor of the Bengals.

Neumann (4-8-1) returns to the ice tomorrow afternoon for the second contest of its two game series versus Buffalo State. Face-off is scheduled for 4:00 PM.