REISTERSTOWN, Md. - Stevenson men's ice hockey senior Nick Gray netted a hat trick while freshman Austin Master dished out three assists as the third-seeded Mustangs downed sixth-seeded Neumann, 8-4, in the United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC) Quarterfinals Wednesday evening at Reisterstown Sportsplex.

• After a back and forth opening few minutes, the Knights (9-17-0) earned the game's first power play at the 7:11 mark.
• Senior Dominic Brenza nearly netted his fourth shorthanded goal of the season after sophomore Ryan Patrick centered a pass to Brenza who was on the far post.
• The Mustangs (17-7-2) went on their first power play at the 17:45 mark but it was Eric Madison who found the back of the net to get give the visitors a 1-0 lead.
• With 1:38 still remaining on the power play, Stevenson leveled the game at, 1-1, with 1:15 remaining in the period as Gray buried a shot from the left slot.
• Master and sophomore Luke Benitez picked up the helpers.

• Following an early penalty kill by Neumann, the Mustangs took their first lead of the game as junior Carl Lyden scored an even strength goal.
• Brenza intercepted a pass in the neutral zone before finding Lyden on the right slot for a shot to the upper right corner over the glove of Kyle Pantelone.
• The Knights responded with a power play goal of their own, scoring with 11 seconds remaining on the man advantage.
• At the 11:10 mark, Stevenson went back on the power play and after a discussion on a no-goal, Gray scored with 19 seconds left before the penalty expired.
• Patrick and junior Aaron Murray dished out the assists.
• Senior Justin Stelzer pushed the hosts lead to, 4-2, on an assist from Master before Neumann got back within one just 2:06 later.
• With 6.2 seconds left in the period, Gray completed his hat trick. Master had his third primary helper while senior Evan Williams had the secondary assist.

• Williams scored an unassisted goal just 1:49 into the period, giving the Mustangs a, 6-3, lead.
• At the 3:03 mark, Neumann answered as Barry Kneedler scored his team leading 17th goal of the season.
• Junior Houston Wilson became the fifth different Mustang to find the back of the net as he scored on a rush after quick passes from senior Colin Woods and freshman Chris Lee.
• With 3:30 left and down three, the Knights pulled Pantelone but just 10 seconds later, Stelzer scored an empty net goal.
• The senior defensive pair of Chris Javens and Bruce Stachitas had the assists.

• Stevenson outshot Neumann, 45-21, including 35-13 over the final two periods.
• The Mustangs finished 2-for-5 on the power play while the Knights were 2-for-4.
• The win is the first playoff victory in program history after the Mustangs fell in their first games in 2017 and 2018.
• The eight goals is tied for the second most the team has scored this season. It is the 14th time the Mustangs have netted at least five goals.
• Stevenson is 25-0-0 all-time when scoring at least five goals. The team is also unbeaten when totaling at least 40 shots this season.
• It is the second career hat trick for Gray and sixth in program history.
• Master's three assists marks the third straight game the Mustangs have had a player dish out three assists. Patrick and Murray each had three assists in the two wins during the regular season.

• Stevenson will travel to second-seeded Wilkes on Friday, February 28 for a UCHC semifinal contest beginning at 5:00 p.m. It will be the first of a two-game series with game two taking place on Saturday, February 29 at 5:00 p.m.