ASTON, Pa. - The Neumann University men's ice hockey team earned their first win of the season in emphatic fashion on Saturday evening, shutting out United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC) rival Lebanon Valley College by a score of 4-0.
 
Mike Cosentino was stellar in goal in the win, stopping all 38 shots he faced to pick up the shut out. Four different Knights scored in the victory including Clay Boyd, Zac Boyle, Danny Cangelosi and Eric Madison.
 
Looking for their first win of the season, the Knights came out strong to start the contest. Neumann outshot the Dutchmen by a count of 14-13 in the frame, but could not put a puck past the visiting goaltender. Lebanon Valley had the best opportunity of the period with a breakaway seven minutes into the frame, but Cosentino came up big with a pad save to keep things level at 0-0 heading to the second.
 
The second period was much of the same from both teams, as goaltending continued to reign supreme. The two teams combined for 29 shots in the stanza, but neither side could break through with a goal until late in the frame. Glenn Florczak nearly broke the deadlock at the 9:30 mark, but his shot found the crossbar as the game remained scoreless. The junior forward's next big play would give the Knights the lead though. After intercepting a puck deep in the Lebanon Valley zone, Florczak made an outstanding behind the back pass to a cutting Boyle in the slot, who buried the puck into the net to give Neumann a lead with just 46 seconds left in the period.
 
Neumann's one-goal lead would be tested early and often by the Dutchmen in the third, but Cosentino was sensational, saving his best play for the final 20 minutes of play. The junior goaltender was needed just 30 seconds into the frame, making one of his best saves of the night to keep the Knights ahead. Neumann then used the power play to build a bit of breathing room. Boyd was the next Knight to find the scoresheet on the evening, deflecting a cannon of a slap shot from the point by Barry Kneedler past the Dutchmen goaltender to double the team's lead at 2-0 just under five minutes into the frame.
 
From there the hosts blew the game wide open with excellent play at both ends of the ice. In a tremendous sequence midway through the period, Cosentino made two back to back outstanding saves before Matt Gerber picked up the ensuing rebound and sprung Cangelosi the other way on a breakaway that he deposited through the visiting goaltender's five-hole to make it 3-0 to the hosts.
 
After a late double minor penalty to Neumann, Lebanon Valley pulled their goalie to try to get back into the game with a 6-on-4 advantage, but again Cosentino stymied the Dutchmen. The Knight goaltender made several point blank saves before Madison capped off the evening with a shorthanded empty netter to clinch the 4-0 victory for Neumann.
 
Neumann (1-3-0, 1-3-0 UCHC) will look to continue its winning ways on home ice next Friday, November 22nd when the team plays host to Chatham University. Puck-drop is scheduled for 7:00 PM.