REISTERSTOWN, Md. - The Neumann University men's ice hockey team saw its season come to an end Thursday afternoon at Stevenson, falling in a hard-fought battle in the United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC) quarterfinals by a score of 3-2.
 
Evan Hoey and Clay Boyd scored for the Knights in the loss, while Kyle Pantalone was outstanding in net with 38 saves.
 
Looking for their first trip to the UCHC semifinals since the 2017-18 season, the Knights were ready to play from the opening whistle. Neumann earned a power play just 22 seconds into the contest, but could not capitalize as the game remained tied early. Midway through the frame the penalty kill was called into action and rose to the occasion, shutting down the Mustang power-play to keep the game level. Late in the period, Neumann finally broke through. Hoey lit the lamp off of assists from Nick Cramer and Ty Kulas as the visitors got the all important first goal on the road to make it 1-0. The scoreline would remain the same after one with Stevenson carrying a 10-6 edge in shots.
 
Neumann had a big chance to build on our early lead in the second stanza, but a second power play went by the wayside as it remained 1-0. The Mustangs then fought their way back the rest of the period. Using a man-advantage of their own, Stevenson finally put a puck past Pantalone at the 12:16 mark to knot the matchup up at 1-1. The hosts would stay on an extended power play late in the period, as a Neumann major penalty gave the Mustangs five minutes with an extra man. The Knights were outstanding on the kill though, limiting Stevenson's chances and killing off the first four minutes of the man-advantage to send the game to intermission still tied at 1-1.
 
Neumann fought off the final minute of the major at the opening of the third, but the Mustangs finally wore the visitors down just after the power play ended, scoring at the 1:12 mark to take their first lead at 2-1. The game remained at the same score until late in the period, when Stevenson doubled their advantage with a marker at 16:27. The Knights would not go quietly though despite the late deficit. Boyd cut the lead back to one after scoring on the power play off feeds from Tommy Dougherty and Richie Brusco to make it 3-2 with 1:07 left to play. Neumann pulled Pantalone for an extra attacker to try and level the contest, but the Knights could not get an equalizer in the final minute as the game finished 3-2 in favor of Stevenson.
 
Neumann finishes its shortened season with a record of 1-6-2. The Knights will look to a young core to rebound in the 2021-22 season.