COLMAR, Pa. – The Neumann University men's ice hockey team picked up its first win of the season on Friday evening, skating home with a 7-3 victory on the road at Arcadia University in United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC) action.
Barry Kneedler (2 g, 2 a) paced the Knights with a four point evening, while
Richie Brusco (3 a),
Brady Mistler (1 g, 2 a) and
Nick Martino (1 g, 2 a) all recorded three points on the night. Dillon Demke,
Nate Dunning and
Dillon Manchester also scored for Neumann, who received 20 saves from goalie
Cal Ambrose.
Hungry to earn their first win of the season on Friday evening, the Knights wasted no time jumping all over a young Arcadia team. Just 6:50 into the contest, Neumann began a theme for the evening of scoring on the power play. Kneedler lit the lamp on the man advantage to take a 1-0 lead, then assisted on another power play goal from Dunning with 1:28 left in the period to send the visitors to intermission with a two goal cushion.
The floodgates would then open in the second stanza. Yet again with the extra man, Neumann made it 3-0 just 1:03 into the frame thanks to a goal from Martino. Keeping their momentum rolling, the Knights received an even strength marker from Manchester five minutes later to take a commanding 4-0 lead with 13:28 left to play in the period. Arcadia responded with a shorthanded goal under a minute later to make it 4-1, but Neumann quelled any thoughts of a comeback from the hosts with two more tallies late in the period. Demke found the back of the net for the team's fourth power play goal of the game at the 17:20 mark, then Mistler capped off the scoring in the period with an even strength goal at 18:20 to take a comfortable 6-1 lead into the second intermission.
Kneedler put an exclamation point on the evening for the Knights early in the third with his second goal of the game and the team's fifth power play goal of the night to make it 7-1 midway through the third. The hosts got a few consolation markers late in the game to close the gap somewhat, but it was far too little, too late as Neumann skated away with a much needed 7-3 win.
Neumann (1-4, 1-2 UCHC) will look to continue its winning ways tomorrow afternoon when it plays host to Lebanon Valley College in another UCHC battle. Puck-drop is scheduled for 4:00 PM.
