OWINGS MILLS, Md. - The Neumann University women's ice hockey team battled to a huge 1-1 tie in United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC) action on Saturday night versus Stevenson University to keep its playoff hopes alive.

Steph Grundy scored for Neumann in the draw, while Helen Cooney was sensational in goal with 46 saves. 

Needing at least a point to stay alive in the UCHC playoff race, the Knights knew they needed their best effort on the evening. Things did not go to plan early though, as four minor penalties kept the visitors on the penalty kill for much of the first frame. Neumann's penalty killers fought off a full two minutes of 5-on-3 play before killing off two other man-advantages to keep the game scoreless. Despite the solid special teams play, Stevenson was still able to break the deadlock late in the period with a goal at the 16:59 mark. The Mustangs carried a 1-0 lead into intermission along with a 17-4 edge in shots.

Neumann played a much better second period, firing seven shots on the Stevenson goal, but the Knights could not break through with a goal. Cooney kept the visitors in the game with 9 saves to keep the Mustang advantage just one goal heading to the third.

Stevenson successfully slowed down the Knights' attack for much of the third frame, but just as the game looked to be ending 1-0 in favor of the hosts, Neumann finally solved the Mustang net-minder. After taking a time out at the 18:00 minute mark, the Knights pulled Cooney for an extra attacker and set the stage for a dramatic finish. With the 6-on-5 advantage,  Neumann wasted no time tying the contest up. Grundy took a pass from Angeline Taiariol and found the back of the net to level the contest at 1-1 and send the game into overtime. 

In the extra session, Cooney was the star for the Knights. The junior goaltender stopped four shots, including one from point blank range, as she kept the game tied. Neumann registered three shots of their own in the overtime but could not find a winner. With the game still knotted up after the five minutes of added time, the contest officially ended in a tie.

With the draw, Neumann (6-16-1, 5-10-1 UCHC) keeps its playoff hopes alive heading into the final weekend of UCHC play. The Knights will play a home and home with King's College next Friday and Saturday to close out their season. Three points behind Stevenson, Neumann will need to win both of its games versus King's next weekend and hope for the Mustangs to lose both of their games to top ranked Elmira College in order to make the playoffs.