ASTON, Pa. - The Neumann University women's ice hockey team opened its season in style on Friday evening, taking down visiting New England College in non-conference action by a score of 4-0 to pick up its first win of the young season.
 
The dynamic duo of Jeannie Padden (2 g) and Katelyn Brown (1 g, 3 a) led the Knights on the night, combining for six points in the win. Mollie Johnson (2 a) and Emma Paton (1 g, 1 a) also had two points on the evening. Helen Cooney was outstanding in goal, stopping all 37 shots she faced to pick up the shut out win.
 
Neumann wasted no time breaking the ice in its new season. Making her Neumann debut on the night, Padden deflected home a Brown shot from the point just 2:51 into the game to put the Knights out in front 1-0. The score-line would remain the same the rest of the period with each team registering eight shots in the frame. Cooney was sharp in the opening 20 minutes, with her biggest save coming in a kick-save late in the period.
 
The hosts continued to build onto their lead in the second stanza. Brown again played the role of play-maker, circling the offensive zone before finding Paton for a wide open shot that found its way past the Pilgrim goaltender to double the Neumann lead to 2-0. Cooney continued to be strong in goal, stopping 12 more shots in the period to keep the visitors off the board.
 
New England threw everything it had at the Knights in the third period, but 17 saves from Cooney kept the shutout intact. Needing an insurance goal, Neumann got just that 2:16 into the frame with a fantastic individual effort from Brown. After taking a pass deep in her own zone, the junior danced around several Pilgrim defenders before wiring a puck past the visiting net-minder to give the Knights a 3-0 lead. Padden then sealed the contest with her second goal of the night with just over five minutes left to play to give Neumann a 4-0 season opening win.
 
Neumann (1-0-0) will get right back to action tomorrow night when it plays host to UMass-Boston in another non-conference matchup. Puck-drop is scheduled for 2:00 PM.