ASTON, Pa. - The Neumann University women's ice hockey team suffered its first setback of the season on Friday evening, falling by a score of 3-2 to United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC) rival Stevenson University.

Katelyn Brown sparked the Neumann offense on the evening with a goal and an assist, while Sid Squires also scored for the Knights. Michelle Winand-Bacon was superb in goal stopping 43 of the 46 shots she faced in the loss.

As it normally is between the two conference rivals, the game would be a back and forth affair. Looking for revenge from last season's playoff defeat at the hands of the Mustangs, the Knights came out ready to play. Stevenson matched the hosts' energy early on though, scoring the game's first goal at the 8:49 mark of the first period to take a 1-0 lead. Neumann replied right back with a goal of its own from Squires late in the period off assists from Brown and Mikaylee Henhawk to level things at one apiece. Stevenson held a 14-9 edge in shots after one but the score remained even at 1-1 heading to the second.

Each team looked to take a stranglehold on the contest in the second stanza, but early period penalties would doom the Knights to another deficit. Two back-to-back infractions placed Neumann on a 5-on-3 penalty kill that the Mustangs would capitalize on. A nice wrist shot over Winand-Bacon's shoulder from the face-off dot gave Stevenson its second lead of the night at 2-1. Much like the team's last game versus Lebanon Valley though, Neumann would not quit, again fighting back to equalize the matchup. This time Brown banged home a loose puck in the crease late in the period to make things 2-2 moving into the final frame.

Unfortunately for the Knights, the team's penalty woes continued into the third. Two more early period penalties again placed the hosts on a 5-on-3 penalty kill. Neumann was able to kill off one of the minor penalties, but could not kill off the second as the Mustangs again converted on the man-advantage to retake the lead at 3-2 with 10:14 left to play. The Knights fought hard to find a game-tying goal, but more untimely penalties and a stout Stevenson defense would help secure the 3-2 road victory for the Mustangs.

Neumann (1-1-1) gets right back to the ice tomorrow for a rematch at Stevenson. Puck-drop is scheduled for 6:00 PM.