UTICA, N.Y. - The Neumann University men's ice hockey team fell in United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC) action on Saturday evening, losing by a score of 5-2 to host Utica College.
 
Mario Tropea and Danny Cangelosi scored in the loss for the Knights, while Kyle Pantelone stopped 39 saves in goal.
 
It would be a slow start for Neumann on the evening, as the Pioneers outshot the visitors by a count of 19-10 in the first frame. Pantelone was excellent in keeping the Knights in the game with 18 first period saves, but one puck would get by him at the 4:27 mark to give Utica a 1-0 lead after one.
 
The Pioneers would press for more in the second stanza, continuing to build their lead throughout the period. The hosts would tally two more unanswered goals in the frame and take a commanding 3-0 lead into the second intermission.
 
The Neumann offense would finally come to life early in the final frame, scoring just 2:35 into the period via a goal from Tropea to get the visitors back to within two at 3-1. The Knights' momentum would be stopped though just two and a half minutes later, as Utica again found the back of the net to make it 4-1 at the 5:05 mark. Despite the deflating goal, Neumann continued to try and fight its way back with another goal from Cangelosi with 12 minutes left to play, but once again the Pioneers had an answer. The hosts scored with just over six minutes to cap off the 5-2 conference victory.
 
Neumann (5-12-0, 4-6-0 UCHC) returns to the ice tomorrow for an afternoon matinee at Nazareth College. Puck-drop is scheduled for 1:00 PM.