ASTON, Pa. - The Neumann University men's ice hockey team opened its 2018-19 season with a 4-3 loss on home-ice to visiting SUNY Brockport on Friday evening.
 
Three different Knights scored in the home opener for Neumann including Clay Boyd, Richie Brusco and Thomas Mansbridge. Sammy Bernard made the start in goal, stopping 30 shots in the loss.
 
Neumann struggled to find traction early, conceding 15 first period shots while generating just three of its own attempts. Despite the heavy shot advantage though, Brockport only managed one goal in the period thanks to excellent goaltending from Bernard. The Golden Eagles scored on the power play at the 7:44 mark of the first frame and took a 1-0 lead into intermission.
 
A penalty filled second stanza would see the Knights get back into the game. Despite committing four penalties early in the period, Neumann was able to kill each Brockport power-play off. The Knights were also able to knot the game up on a penalty kill, as Boyd scored a beautiful goal on a shorthanded breakaway to make it 1-1. The game looked to be heading to the second intermission tied at 1–1, but a late goal from the Golden Eagles on another power plat with just 18 seconds left in the period gave the visitors a 2-1 lead heading to the third.
 
Brockport opened its lead even further in the final frame. Using two goals in the first 10 minutes of the period, the Golden Eagles widened their lead to 4-1 and would never look back. Neumann made it interesting late in the game when Brusco and Mansbridge each scored in the final minute and a half of the period, but the Knights could not find another goal and fell by a score of 4-3.
 
Neumann (0-1) returns right back to the ice tomorrow afternoon for a matinee with fifth ranked SUNY Geneseo. Puck-drop is scheduled for 4:00 PM.