Box Score ASTON, Pa. - The Neumann University men's ice hockey team tasted defeat for the first time of the season on Friday evening, falling in United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC) action to visiting Lebanon Valley College by a score of 3-2.
 
Austin Boyle and Evan Hoey were the goal-scorers on the evening for the Knights, while Tyler Roy made 31 saves in goal in the loss.
 
Looking to continue to ride the momentum from an undefeated start over the season's opening two weekends, Neumann struggled to get going in Friday night's loss. The Knights chased the game from the jump, falling behind Lebanon Valley just 3:38 into the first frame as the visitors scored to make it 1-0. The score remained that way until late in the period, when Neumann answered back on the power play. After a Nate Dunning shot from the point found its way to the net through a maze of bodies, Brady Mistler jammed the puck loose in the crease and the rebound was buried by Boyle to tie the game at one apiece with 5:07 left in the period. The Knights earned a late power play off a great drive to the net from Clay Boyd, but could not capitalize with the man advantage as the game remained deadlocked. The best chance on the power play actually came from the visitors, as they were stopped by an outstanding save on a breakaway attempt by Roy, whose heroics kept things tied moving to the second.
 
The Knights were stunned though to start the middle frame , as the Flying Dutchmen scored just five seconds after the opening face-off to regain a 2-1 lead. The visitors continued to press and doubled their advantage midway through the period to make it 3-1 at the 12:16 mark. Neumann stopped the bleeding late in the frame via Hoey. The sophomore forward wired a wicked wrist shot past the Lebanon Valley net-minder to make it 3-2 after two periods of play.
 
The Knights threw 11 shots at the Lebanon Valley cage in the final 20 minutes of play, but could not find an equalizer. The team's best chances came via two late period power plays. With under two minutes left to play, Neumann pulled its goalie on a man-advantage to make it 6-on-4, however the Knights could not put a puck past the visiting goaltender as the conference contest finished 3-2 in favor of the Flying Dutchmen.
 
Neumann (1-1-1) will play a rematch with Lebanon Valley tomorrow night in Hershey. Puck-drop is scheduled for 7:00 PM.