ASTON, Pa. - The Neumann University women's ice hockey team returned to action after the holiday break with a 4-2 loss to Sacred Heart University in non-conference action on Friday evening.
 
Katelyn Brown and Jackie Schneider each scored for Neumann in the loss, while goalie Helen Cooney was stellar in net with 51 saves.
 
The Knights knew they'd have their hands full on the evening with a 12-win Pioneer team who was 5-0-1 in its past six games. Sacred Heart showed why it had so much early season success in a first period that saw the visitors outshoot Neumann by a count of 18-7. The Pioneers used the heavy shot advantage to take an early 1-0 lead, but could not stay in front long, as Neumann fought back to tie the contest at the 7:34 mark of the period. Brown snapped home her sixth goal of the season from the slot off an excellent feed behind the net from Jordyn Cholish to level the contest at 1-1 heading to the first intermission.
 
Sacred Heart continued to carry the play in the second stanza, but some gritty play from the Neumann defense and outstanding goaltending from Cooney kept the Knights in the game. The junior net-minder stopped all 21 shots she faced in the frame, making a few sensational glove saves to keep the game tied. The Knights responded with some inspired play late in the period as they looked to take their first lead. Cholish rattled a puck off the post at the 8:00 minute mark and then Angeline Taiariol was denied on a breakaway attempt with under five minutes left in the frame. The hosts would not be denied though, finally breaking the dead-lock with just over a minute to go in the period. Schneider banged home a rebound off a Steph Grundy shot to give Neumann a 2-1 lead heading into the final period of play.
 
Unfortunately for the Knights, they could not keep their late second period momentum rolling into the third. The Pioneers tied the game just 23 seconds into the frame, then found the game-winning tally five minutes later. Neumann tried to find its way back into the game but a stifling Sacred Heart defense kept the hosts at bay for the rest of the game. The visitors then added an insurance marker at the 14:14 mark to seal the 4-2 non-conference win.
 
Neumann (2-9, 1-6 UCHC) returns right back to the ice tomorrow afternoon for the second of its two game series with Sacred Heart. Puck-drop is scheduled for 2:00 PM.