ASTON, Pa. - The Neumann University men's hockey team saw it's three game win streak come to an end Friday evening as the Knights fell by a score of 11-3 to visiting Utica College in United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC) action at IceWorks.
Nick Martino led Neumann with a two point night (1 g, 1 a), while
Brady Mistler and
Dillon Manchester also scored for the hosts.
Kyle Pantalone and
Zach Richards combined for 38 saves in the loss. Senior
Richie Brusco also chipped in with an assist in his 100th career game as a Knight.
Seeking its fourth straight victory and fifth in six games, Neumann came into the matchup with the third ranked Pioneers on a hot streak. Utica did it's best to pour cold water on the Knights early though, recording the game's first three goals to jump out to a 3-0 lead in the first frame. Martino was able to get the hosts some late period momentum heading into intermission with a deflection goal with just eight seconds left in the period, but the Pioneers still carried a two goal advantage to the second.
Things would unravel quickly in the middle stanza for Neumann. The hosts could not sustain the late momentum from the first, as Utica pounced all over the Knights with three more markers in the opening 7:41 of the frame to build a 6–1 lead. The Pioneers continued to press forward late in the period, piling on three more tallies in the waning minutes of the second to bring a huge 9-1 lead to the third.
Neumann would not quit though, fighting to the final whistle with a pair of goals in the final frame from Mistler and Manchester as the team sought to battle back into the contest. A comeback wasn't in the cards on the evening though, as two more Pioneer goals in the period sealed the 11-3 victory in favor of the visitors. With the win, Utica now moves to an undefeated record of 8-0 in conference play, while Neumann falls to 3-4-1 in the UCHC.
Neumann (6-7-1, 3-4-1) will look to shake Friday's loss off before returning to the rink Saturday for another pivotal UCHC matchup versus Nazareth College. Puck-drop is scheduled for 4:00 PM.
