OWINGS MILLS, Md. - The Neumann University men's ice hockey team stumbled at Stevenson University on Friday evening, falling to the host Mustangs in United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC) action by a score of 6-3.
 
Thomas Mansbridge was the offensive spark on the evening for the Knights with three assists, while Danny Cangelosi (2 g) and Matt Gerber (2 a) added two points apiece. Tommy Dougherty also scored for Neumann, who received 33 saves in goal from the pair of Kyle Pantalone and Tyler Roy.
 
The first frame would be a feeling out period for both teams, as neither team could get much going offensively. Stevenson held a 9-7 edge in shots, but the game headed to the second period scoreless at 0-0.
 
The second stanza saw the game open up with the teams combining for seven goals. Stevenson got things started early in the frame by scoring two goals just 20 seconds apart to take a 2-0 lead at the 1:18 mark. After a timeout to settle themselves after the Mustang rally, Neumann would steal the momentum back quickly with some excellent work on the power play. The Knights found the back of the net three times on three separate man-advantages in a span of 3:39 to take their first lead of the night at 3-2. Cangelosi buried the first two markers to bring his season goal total to 11 on the season, then Dougherty capped off the Neumann scoring with a goal at the 6:48 mark. The visitors could not sustain the pressure in the Stevenson end though, as the remaining two tallies of the second period went to the Mustangs. The hosts leveled the contest at 9:29 with a power play goal of their own, then regained the lead four minutes later to take a 4-3 lead moving to the third.
 
Stevenson made a comeback bid for the Knights even more difficult to start the third, scoring 19 seconds into the period to double its lead at 5-3. Neumann attempted to fight back with 17 shots in the final frame, but the visitors could not light the lamp again thanks to some outstanding goaltending from the Mustang net-minder. The hosts would seal the game away with another goal at the 6:40 mark of the period to clinch the 6-3 victory and take the crucial points in the conference standings.
 
Neumann (7-14-0, 6-8-0 UCHC) will head to Chatham University tomorrow looking to pick up a much needed road win. Puck-drop is scheduled for 4:00 PM.