Box Score READING, Pa. - After a pair of defeats to Stevenson University last weekend, the Neumann University women's ice hockey team found its way back to the win column on Friday afternoon, picking up a —- win on the road at Alvernia University in United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC) action.
 
Jeannie Padden piloted the Neumann attack on the afternoon, scoring all three goals to earn a hat trick. Claudia Trionfo also picked up a pair of assists, while Alexa Lamplugh stopped 32 shots to claim the win in net.
 
Neumann would get the party started early via Padden's first tally of the day at the 4:15 mark of the first frame. A great outlet pass from sophomore defensemen Georgia Wunder created a 3-on-2 odd-man rush for the Padden-Trionfo-Gabby Massa line. Two initial shots from Trionfo and Massa were denied by the Alvernia goaltender, but Padden was right on the doorstep to bang home the rebound to give the Knights a 1-0 lead. Each team created solid chances to add to the score-line the rest of the period, but despite 14 shots apiece, the score remained 1-0 to the visitors after one.
 
The Knights would double their lead just over six minutes into the second stanza on the power play. After a face-off win from Trionfo, Katelyn Brown ripped a shot towards the cage. Trionfo and Giorgi Rowland each took turns whacking away at the loose puck in the crease before Padden knocked on her second goal of the day to make it 2-0. The two-goal advantage did not last long though, as the Golden Wolves fought back with a marker of their own at the 14:15 mark. Both teams had chances on the power play late in the period, but neither could convert as the game moved to the third with the Knights up 2-1.
 
Looking for a bit of insurance early in the third, Neumann wasted no time extending its lead. After a shot from Mikaylee Henhawk off a cross-ice point to point pass from Alana Lamplugh, Padden found yet another rebound in front of the Alvernia net and again made no mistake. Her third score of the game made it 3-1 Knights with 14:59 left to play. The Golden Wolves would not go quietly though, answering back just over a minute later to make it 3-2 and set up a nervy final few minutes for the visitors. Neumann was forced to kill off two late Alvernia power plays, but the hosts could not break down a stingy penalty killing unit of the Knights as the game finished 3-2.
 
Neumann (2-2-1) will return to its home rink tomorrow afternoon for a rematch with Alvernia. Puck-drop for game two of the series is scheduled for 2:00 PM.