ELMIRA, N.Y. - The Neumann University men's ice hockey team used a late third period comeback to claw its way back from an early deficit and earn a hard-fought point in the United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC) standings on Friday evening at Elmira College.

Austin Boyle and Evan Hoey were the goal-scorers for Neumann in the contest, while goalie Kyle Pantalone was outstanding in net with 47 saves.

After a long drive to New York, the Knights had a hard time finding their legs to start the opening stanza. Elmira took full advantage of the visitors' sluggishness out of the gate, dominating the shot count to the tune of a 15-3 differential. The Soaring Eagles hit pay dirt midway through the frame, scoring shorthanded at the 10:52 mark to take a 1-0 lead into the first intermission.

The hosts would continue to assert themselves in the second period. Elmira wasted no time doubling its lead, using a power play goal under two minutes into the frame to jump out to a 2-0 advantage. Pantalone shut the door from there though, keeping the Knights in the conference contest with some fantastic saves in the stanza. The junior net-minder stopped 18-of-19 shots he faced in the period and single-handedly kept Neumann in the game heading to the third.

Using their goaltender's stellar play as a catalyst, the Knights finally found their legs in the final frame. Neumann took the play to the Soaring Eagles in the last 20 minutes, using a never say die attitude to fight it's way back into the game. The visitors cut Elmira's lead in half just 2:07 into the period as Boyle found the back of the net off assists from a pair of freshmen in Mykyta Volobuyev and Ty Kulas to make it 2-1. Neumann continued to press for an equalizer as the period progressed, but despite some excellent chances, the one goal deficit remained until the game's final minutes. As the game looked to be finishing in favor of Elmira, the Knights dug deep and found one more moment of brilliance on the evening. Hoey lit the lamp with just 1:58 left in the matchup to knot things up at two apiece and send things to overtime.

As the contest moved to the 3-on-3 extra session, each team had quality opportunities to end the game. Elmira out-shot the Knights 5-1 in the five minute period, but despite pressure in each end, neither team could find a winner as the game headed to a shootout.

With the game officially ruled a tie, the two conference foes were left to fight for an extra point in the conference standings. Unfortunately for the Knights, their momentum finally came to a halt in the skills competition. Elmira scored on both of its attempts, while both Neumann shooters were stopped as Elmira won the shootout and picked up the precious extra point.

Neumann (1-0-1) will have another week off before returning to the ice for a home and home series with Lebanon Valley next weekend. Puck-drop on Friday, March 5th in Aston is scheduled for 7:00 PM.