PITTSDON, Pa. - The Neumann University men's ice hockey team dropped a back and forth game on the road at Wilkes University, falling by a score of 5-4 in United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC) action on Friday evening.

Joe Mitchell continued his torrid stretch of outstanding play, tallying two assists on the night. Four different Knights scored in the loss including Chris Ordoobadi, Tommy Dougherty, Barry Kneedler and Dan Cangelosi. Mike Cosentino got the start in goal, making 27 saves.

After a pair of wins last weekend pushed the team into current playoff position, Neumann looked to take down a Wilkes team that sat atop the UCHC standings coming into Friday's games. The Colonels wasted no time showing why they lead the conference in the opening period. The hosts tallied twice in the game's first 12 minutes to take an early 2-0 lead. The game looked to be heading to intermission at the same scoreline, but that changed after a whacky final minute in the frame. Neumann thought it had reclaimed some momentum with an Ordoobadi goal at 19:46 to make it 2-1, but Wilkes scored a back-breaking goal with one second left on the clock in the period to take a 3–1 lead into the second.

Other teams may have been demoralized by the late period marker, but showing a resolve that has been a signature of the team's recent run of good play, Neumann rallied in the second stanza. The Knights fought back for three goals in the middle 20 minutes to stun the home crowd and take a 4-3 lead in the frame. Dougherty and Kneedler recorded power play goals in the opening half of the period to tie the game up, then Cangelosi found the back of the net with three minutes left to play to give the visitors a one-goal lead entering the final period of play.

Wilkes earned an early third period power-play, but Neumann used excellent team defense and penalty killing to keep its lead intact early in the frame. The Knights continued to fight valiantly to hold onto their lead as the period wound down, but the Colonels finally broke through to tie the contest with under seven minutes left to go in the game. With the game tied late, Wilkes generated another power-play opportunity and this time the hosts would capitalize. The Colonels scored with the man-advantage at the 16:55 mark to take a 5-4 lead that they would not relinquish. Neumann pulled Cosentino with a minute to go in the game for an extra attacker, but could not find an equalizer as the game finished 5-4 in favor of Wilkes.

Neumann (5-14-4, 4-8-4 UCHC) will look to rebound tomorrow with a much-needed win at King's College. Puck-drop is slated for 5:30 PM.