ASTON, Pa. – Three different Knights scored and Ben Curley turned aside all 20 shots he faced to earn the shutout as Neumann University defeated Manhattanville College by a 3-0 score in ECAC West Conference men's hockey action on Friday night at Ice Works.
 
After looking good in taking three points during its opening weekend, Manhattanville (1-1-1, 1-1-1 ECAC West) had trouble generating quality chances against the Knights, as the home team posted a 37-20 edge in shots.
 
It didn't take long for Manhattanville to get a power-play chance after a Neumann penalty just 36 seconds into the game, but the Valiants could not convert and instead it was the Knights finding the net soon after returning to full strength. Matt Zendejas put his team ahead with his third goal of the year.
 
Neumann (2-1-1, 2-1-0 ECAC West) continued to pile on the offensive pressure in the opening frame, eventually ending the period with an 18-6 edge in shots. The Knights added one more in the first on Shane Topf's first of the year at 16:59 to take a 2-0 lead into the first intermission.
 
Manhattanville again could not find a way to put a puck home in the second period despite decreasing the shot margin to 9-7. The only goal of the period came off the stick of Neumann's Steve Low, who gave his team a three-goal advantage after 40 minutes with his first tally at 8:14.
 
The Valiants had no better luck in the third period, despite earning three power-play chances in the frame. For the night, Manhattanville went 0 for 5 on the man advantage while also holding Neumann scoreless in its two man-up opportunities.
 
Senior Brian Fleming (Saint John, N.B./Northern Cyclones (AJHL)) suffered his first loss of the year despite making 34 saves.
 
Manhattanville and Neumann will return to Ice Works tomorrow night for the second game of this weekend's two-game weekend series beginning at 7 p.m.