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ASTON, PA - In a game with playoff implications, Nazareth came up just short to the Neumann University Knights, 3-2, in a competitive men's hockey match Friday evening.

While Nazareth out-shot Neumann 39-25, the team was unable to overcome an early deficit. The loss is the Golden Flyers' sixth out of its last seven games and the team drops to 9-11-2 (6-6-1 in UCHC play), while the Knights improve to 7-13-2 (7-5-2 in the conference). The loss also puts Nazareth in a perilous place in the United Collegiate Hockey Conference standings with three regular-season games left. The Golden Flyers visit Stevenson Saturday at 5:30 p.m. in seventh place with 13 points, three behind Manhattanville and Neumann, who host Lebanon Valley and Utica respectively. The top six qualify for the UCHC playoffs. The Golden Flyers close the regular season with home games next weekend against Manhattanville Friday and King's Saturday.

Neumann scored the first goal of the game just 50 seconds in as Liam Board capitalized on a 2-on-1 situation, coming straight down the middle of the ice. The Knights had a chance to extend their lead on a power play 11 minutes into the first period, but the Nazareth penalty kill was effective. On a power play for the Golden Flyers, Connor Davis circled around from the corner to the front of the net to tie the game at 1-1. Nazareth finished the period midway through another power play, firing four shots in the final minute to take a 10-6 shot advantage and a 1-1 score into the first intermission.

The Golden Flyers continued the offensive attack to open the second frame and looked to take the lead on a power play four minutes into the period. A defensive miscommunication behind the net, however, allowed shorthanded Neumann to score its second goal of the game.

Later, with 2:15 remaining, Neumann's Glenn Florczak rushed down the right side and backhanded the puck past Nazareth goalie Sean Kuhn to extend Neumann's lead to 3-1. This prompted a goaltender change for the Golden Flyers and Kuhn was replaced by Michael Tilford. Just 1:30 later, James McDonald knocked a rebounded puck past the Neumann goalie, shrinking the deficit to 3-2 to end the second period.

Nazareth had a chance to tie the game with a 2-on-1 opportunity midway through the third period, but the net was knocked backwards and the play was called dead. A 4-on-4 play 12 minutes in presented the Golden Flyers with a few good looks, but the team could not capitalize.

Neumann was called on a penalty with 2:12 remaining, giving Nazareth a man advantage for almost the rest of the game, but the Golden Flyers could not score. A last gasp face-off near the Neumann goal with five seconds left proved fruitless, and the final score was 3-2 in favor of the Knights.

Nazareth was 1 for 6 on power plays and effectively killed both of Neumann's power plays.

Kuhn saved 11 of 14 shots, while his replacement, Michael Tilford, saved all 11 shots sent his way.

The Golden Flyers return to action Saturday at Stevenson at 5:30 pm.