WILKES BARRE, Pa. - The Neumann University men's ice hockey team could not pull an upset over United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC) leading Wilkes University on Friday night, falling by a score of 6-2.
 
Richie Brusco tallied two assists on the night, while Zac Boyle and Mario Tropea scored for the Knights. Tyler Roy got the start in goal for Neumann, stopping 27 shots in the loss.
 
A slow first period start would sabotage Neumann's chances of earning some much needed road points. The Colonels lit the lamp twice midway through the frame to take a 2-0 lead, then capped off the period with a third tally with just 22 seconds left in the frame to take a 3-0 lead after one. The Knights mustered just five shots in the opening 20 minutes compared to nine from Wilkes.
 
Neumann would not go quietly though, fighting its way back into the contest with a pair of early second period goals. The Knights' red hot power play struck again at the 4:49 mark as Boyle found the back of the net off assists from Brusco and Barry Kneedler to cut the lead to 3-1. Tropea then made it 3-2 four minutes later again off a feed from Brusco to get the Knights right back into the game. Unfortunately for the visitors, that was as close as they would get. Wilkes answered back just 36 seconds after Tropea's tally to rebuild its lead to two goals at 4-2. The Colonels weren't done yet though, tacking on two more late period goals to take a 6-2 advantage into this third.
 
A smothering Wilkes defense kept the Neumann attack in check in the third, holding the Knights to just eight shots in the period. The Colonels would not allow the visitors any hint of a comeback as they skated home with the comfortable 6-2 victory.
 
Neumann (8-15-0, 7-9-0 UCHC) gets right back to the ice tomorrow afternoon for a huge conference tilt with King's College. Puck-drop for the home contest is scheduled for 4:00 PM.