ASTON, Pa. - The Neumann University men's ice hockey team earned its way back into the win column on Friday evening, taking home a convincing 6-1 victory over Anna Maria College in non-conference action.
 
Barry Kneedler paced the Neumann offense with a goal and two assists in the win, while Mike Cosentino made 39 saves in an outstanding effort in goal.
 
With a new-look lineup and new attitude, the Knights opened their first home contest of 2019 with a bang. Neumann took the play to the Amcats from the opening whistle, scoring two goals just 17 seconds apart in the opening minute and a half of play to jump out to a quick 2-0 lead. Thomas Mansbridge opened the scoring at 1:10 off a great feed from Ryan Swain, then Tommy Dougherty doubled the lead in the blink of an eye, firing a loose puck into a gaping cage to give Neumann a 2-0 advantage.
 
The score remained the same until midway through the frame, when the Knights used a two-man advantage to score their third marker of the period. Just after Cosentino stoned an Amcat forward on a breakaway, Neumann rushed the puck up the ice and Barry Kneedler ripped home a rocket from the point to send the game to intermission with the hosts holding a three-goal cushion.
 
Anna Maria fought back in the second, outshooting Neumann by a count of 14-13 and scoring the only goal of the stanza. The Amcats capitalized on a five minute power play, scoring at 12:42 to cut the lead to 3-1. The Knights were able to kill off the remainder of the power play though and headed to the third up by a pair.
 
Neumann would close out the contest in a penalty filled third period. The two teams combined for 13 penalties in the frame, with the Knights taking full advantage of their power play chances. The hosts scored two of their three third period goals on the man-advantage on their way to the comfortable 6-1 win. Chris Caldwell and J.C. Moritz scored on the power play in the period, while Joe Mitchell also lit the lamp for the Knights in the frame.
 
Neumann (1-12-2, 0-6-2 UCHC) will look to carry its positive momentum into its next game on Sunday, January 13th at Chatham University. The UCHC contest is scheduled for 12:00 PM in Pittsburgh.