ASTON, Pa. – The Neumann University Men's Hockey team is set to return to the NCAA Division III National Tournament for the first time since the 2010-11 season.
 
After an thrilling back-and-forth Middle Atlantic Conference championship win over Stevenson University on Saturday the Knights will visit sixth-ranked Hamilton College this coming Saturday in the first round of the National Tournament.
 
Neumann is 17-8-2 overall and was 14-5-2 in MAC conference play, giving them the top seed in the conference tournament. After defeating Alvernia in the semifinals, 5-0, they hosted Stevenson in the final. The Knights took a 3-0 lead early in the second period but the Mustangs came back to take the lead in the third. Dustin Patterson tied the game late in regulation, forcing overtime and Zack Smith got the game-winner at the 9:16 mark of the extra period.
 
The Knights are led by Max Donohoe's 18 goals which is tied for 10^th in all of Division III. Lucas Culhane has 27 assists, which puts him tied for fourth in the nation, and his 1.12 assists per game is tied for second. MAC Rookie of the Year, Christian Green is one of the top goalies in Division III with a goals against average of 1.78, which is seventh, and his .942 save percentage is tied for third.
 
Their opponents in the first round, Hamilton College, is coming off a 19-5-2 overall season. They finished first in the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) with a 14-3-1 conference record. They defeated Connecticut College in their conference tournament's quarterfinal game, 5-4 in overtime, but suffered a tough overtime loss by the same score in the semis against Williams. This is the first ever meeting between these two teams.
 
The first round game from Russell Sage Rink in Clinton, N.Y. is scheduled for a 7:00 PM puck drop. Whoever takes the win will move on to the quarterfinals on March 21^st. Both the semifinals and championship games will be held at the Adirondack Bank Center in Utica, N.Y., on March 27^th and 29^th, respectively.
 
Ticket sales for the first round game begin at 5:30 p.m. and doors open to Sage Rink at 6 for the 7 p.m. start. All ticket sales and entry to the rink will take place through Margaret Bundy Scott Field House. Due to capacity limits inside Sage Rink, early arrival to purchase tickets is strongly recommended.
 
Cost of admission is $10 for adults, $5 for seniors and students, and $3 for children aged 12 and under. Children under 2 years old with an adult are admitted free.