ASTON, PA- The nationally ranked Utica College men's hockey team let a two-goal lead slip away as it fell to host Neumann University 3-2 in UCHC Conference action Saturday evening.  Senior Anthony McVeigh (Kemptville, Ontario/Carleton Place (CCHL)) scored both goals for Utica on the evening.
 
UC drops to 17-5-1 overall (10-4 UCHC).  The Pioneers will wrap up the regular season next weekend as they travel to Kings College on Friday night before returning home on Saturday for the regular season finale against Manhattanville.  Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m. both nights.
 
McVeigh got the Pioneers on the board at 9:47 of the first period as he netted his eighth of the year, assisted by Roman Ammirato (Williamstown, NJ/Union College (ECAC)) and Conor Landrigan (New Tripoli, PA/Binghamton Jr. Sens (NAHL)).
 
McVeigh and Ammirato hooked up again at the 16-minute mark of the second period to extend the Utica lead.  Senior Zach Borsoi (Brossard, Quebec/Gloucester (CCHL)) also assisted on the play.
 
Neumann responded just 42 seconds later as Connor Annett found the back of the net for his first of the season.  The goal came right as a Utica player came out of the penalty box marking it a short-handed tally. 
 
The Pioneers ran into penalty trouble in the final frame as they were assessed five penalties over the last 20 minutes.  The Knights capitalized on the opportunity to net the equalizer just five minutes into the third period off a power play tally by Nick Minerva.  Liam Board and Zac Boyle assisted on Minerva's second of the year.
 
The home team took its first lead of the game with just 4:06 remaining as Paul Butler put in his first of the year. 
 
Sophomore Gianluca Baggetta (Maple, Ontario/North York (OJHL)) made 27 saves as he was handed his first loss of the season.  His counterpart, Matt Gibney made 32 saves in the win.