ASTON, Pa. - The Neumann University women's ice hockey team returned home for the first time since November on Friday evening, falling by a score of 4-0 to visiting SUNY Cortland in non-conference action.
 
Helen Cooney and Michelle Winand-Bacon split time in goal in the loss, combining for 54 saves on the evening.
 
Cortland took the play to the Knights from the opening whistle, outshooting the hosts by a count of 18-4 in the first frame. The Red Dragons peppered Cooney with chances, but the senior stalwart was sensational in the opening twenty minutes, keeping Neumann in the game with 17 big saves. Despite her best efforts though, the Red Dragons finally snuck a puck by her with just 1:29 left to play in the period to take a 1-0 lead into intermission.
 
Cooney continued to be Neumann's best player early in the second stanza. The net-minder was outstanding early in the period, stopping seven shots in a minute span including an outstanding, sprawling skate save along the goal line to keep the deficit at just one goal. The Knights' best chance to score in the frame came a minute later when a Claudia Trionfo shot in tight was saved by the Red Dragon goaltender and the ensuing rebound was drilled just over the crossbar by Katelyn Brown. Despite a yeomen's effort from Cooney, Cortland would widen it's lead late in the period with three tallies to make it 4-0 in favor of the visitors heading to the third.
 
The Knights turned to Winand-Bacon in goal for the third and the freshman was fantastic as she stopped all 18 shots she faced. Neumann tried to fight back in the final 20 minutes, but a strong Cortland defense shut the door on any comeback attempt as the visitors skated away with the comfortable 4-0 victory.
 
Neumann (7-6-0) will look to avenge its loss tomorrow when the two teams rematch tomorrow afternoon. Puck-drop is scheduled for 2:00 PM.