GENESEO, N.Y. – The Neumann University men's ice hockey team fell for the second time in as many days on Saturday afternoon, dropping a 7-4 setback to third ranked SUNY Geneseo in non-conference action.

Barry Kneedler (2 g) and Richie Brusco (2 a) continued their excellent weekend on the stat sheet with two points apiece on the afternoon, while Kyle Pantalone made 50 saves in goal in the loss.

Knowing they would have their work cut out for themselves on the day versus the third ranked team in Division III hockey, the Knights came out strong in the opening 20 minutes. Neumann recorded 10 shots in the frame but could not put a puck past the Geneseo netminder. The hosts registered 16 shots of their own in the period and broke through with the only goal of the frame at the 6:06 mark to take a 1-0 lead into intermission.

Geneseo would then break the game wide open in the second stanza. The hosts notched three more unanswered goals to open the period to take a 4-0 lead with just 2:35 left in the frame. Neumann would not go quietly though, using a late second period power-play to get back into the game as Kneedler scored his fourth goal of the weekend and ninth of the season to make it 4-1 heading to the third.

Much like last night's game at Brockport, the third period in Saturday's game would be a wild one. Geneseo tried to kill the game off with an early goal just 1:09 into the final frame, but Neumann again showed its resolve and would not quit. The Knights fought back with three even-strength goals over the next eight minutes to cut the lead to 5-4 with 10:50 left to play. Kneedler, Matt Gerber and Ryan Swain were the goal-scorers for Neumann as they put a shock into Geneseo and set the stage for a dramatic final 10 minutes.

The Knights did everything they could to get the game tied, but they could not light the lamp again. While pushing for a tying goal, Geneseo countered with a goal to make it 6-4 then tacked on an empty netter to survive the Neumann scare by a final of 7-4.

Neumann (3-9-0) will return to the ice next weekend for a pair of non-conference games at SUNY Potsdam. The Knights will take on the Bears on Friday, January 10^th at 7:00 PM.