FREDONIA, N.Y. — Neumann rallied from a three-goal deficit to overtake Fredonia, 5-4, in men’s college hockey at Steele Hall.
The Knights (9-4-0) scored five straight goals, including two in a span of 23 seconds midway through the second period to tie the score at 3-3.
Ryan Liuten broke the tie at 10:07 of the third period and Zac Lazzaro netted a short-hander at the 11:13 mark. Lazzaro’s goal stood as the game-winner.
Marcus Ortiz (Richardson, Texas) scored twice for Fredonia, his second coming with 1:29 remaining to cut the margin to one goal.
Neumann goaltender Mitch Wiebe earned the No. 1 star after stopping 32 of 33 shots in relief. He entered the game with his team down, 3-0.
Ortiz earned the No. 2 star and Lazzaro the No. 3. The loss dropped the Blue Devils to 5-6-2.
The Blue Devils came out strong and took a 3-0 lead on goals by Ortiz, Mitch Kaufmann (Red Deer, Alberta), and Bobby Polachek (Kingston, Pa.). Ortiz scored on a one-timer off a faceoff, Kaufmann when he jammed a puck in the short side, and Polachek off his own rebound. Polachek’s goal was Fredonia’s first short-hander of the season.
Steve Low started Neumann comeback with a slapshot from the left point which found its way through traffic in front of Fredonia goaltender Jeff Flagler (Owen Sound, Ont.).
Goals by Jon Low and Mike Davis in a span of 23 seconds even the score midway through the second period. The teams entered the third period tied 3-3 prior to the goals by Liuten and Lazzaro.
