Men's Ice Hockey | 2/28/2015 6:59:00 PM

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ASTON, PA. – After rallying from a pair of two-goal deficits, third-seeded Nazareth allowed four goals in the third period to allow host Neumann to pull away in the ECAC West semifinals.  The Knights went on to the 8-4 victory. Juniors Mike Miller and Sean de Herder scored their first goals of the season. Sophomore Dominik Gabaj and freshman Oliver Janzen also scored for Nazareth.

Following the loss, the Golden Flyers drop to 12-10-5 overall. With the win, the Knights improve to 14-8-4.  It is Neumann's fourth consecutive victory. The Knights' winning streak includes three victories over Nazareth in the last 15 days. The Golden Flyers defeated Neumann 3-2 in November when the teams played at the Bill Gray's IcePlex. The second-seeded Knights advance to play first-seeded Hobart or fourth-seeded Elmira in the ECAC West Championship March 7th. Neumann won the Divsion III NCAA National Championship in 2009.

In their third season, the Golden Flyers' 12 victories set a school record. Nazareth had six wins in its inaugural season and eight wins last year. The Golden Flyers recorded their first tournament victory in school history on Wednesday evening when they defeated Manhattanville 5-1.

In the decisive third period, Shane Topf scored the eventual game-winning goal 2:35 into the stanza after he collected the rebound on his own shot. Topf's initial shot was blocked by a defender, but it bounced right back to him. He was able to score on his second attempt. Minutes later, Neumann's Jon Low added another goal on the power play to add to its lead. It was the Knights' third power play goal of the evening. Mike Davis, recently honored with ECAC West Rookie of the Year honors, tallied his third goal of the game 6:28 into the period to give Neumann a 7-4 lead. Davis' scoring chance came when he intercepted a Golden Flyers' pass in Nazareth's defensive zone. With the Golden Flyers applying added offensive pressure, Anthony Pino scored the Knights' fourth goal of the period on a hard slap shot.

In the first period, the Knights claimed a 2-0 lead in the opening 13 minutes. Davis opened the scoring by beating the Nazareth defender on a one-on-one, then he faked Nazareth goalie Ed Zdolshek. Davis' 11th goal of the season was just 3:02 into the first period. Neumann stretched its lead to two goals with 7:07 to play in the period following a defensive miscue by the Golden Flyers. As he tried to clear the puck off the boards and out of the defensive zone, defender Marcus Moles' attempt found the stick of the Knights' Liam Board. Board drove uncontested to Nazareth's net and put a shot over Zdolshek's shoulder.

With 90 seconds left in the first period, junior Mike Miller scored his first-career goal with a blast from the right point to cut the Golden Flyers' deficit to one goal. Classmates Sean DeHerder and Tom Seravalli were credited with the assists. Nazareth had a power play that spanned the last minute of the first and opening minute of the second period but were unable to tie the game.

Less than five minutes into the second, however, DeHerder did tie the game for the first time. He collected the loose puck in the middle of the ice in the neutral zone as it was going from the left-wing boards toward the right-wing. DeHerder skated just inside the Knights' blue line and blasted a slap shot into the back of the Neumann net. It was his first goal of the season.

Nazareth surrendered a pair of goals in a span of 61 seconds after the Golden Flyers were whistled for a flurry of penalties midway through the second. Davis was credited with his second goal of the game with 11:36 left to play in the second on a five-on-three power play. A minute later, Doug Rose scored a one-timer goal on a six-on-four scoring chance. Nazareth was still killing one infraction, and the Golden Flyers were whistled for another delayed penalty to allow Neumann to play with an extra attacker.

Gabaj and Janzen scored in a 2:28 span midway through the second period to tie the game at four goals apiece. On his goal, Gabaj tipped home a rebound off a slap shot from the point. With 6:48 to play in the period, Janzen tied the game at four goals apiece on an odd-man rush. He received a pass across the crease and swatted it into the back of the Neumann net. Gabaj's goal was his 10th of the season, and Janzen's score was his 12th of the year.

Nazareth finished the contest with a 32-23 advantage in shots. Ben Curley earned the victory by stopping 28 shots. Zdolshek took the loss as he allowed seven goals and was credited with 13 saves in 46:28 of playing time. Sophomore Brandon Lane allowed one goal and had one save in 13:19.