1/28/2006 7:00:00 PM

Ice Hockey Gives Manhattanville a Scare, But Falls 9-6

PURCHASE, N.Y. – For 40 minutes, the Lebanon Valley College ice hockey team gave No. 5-ranked Manahattanville College all it could handle before the Valiants rallied for a 9-6 ECAC West victory Saturday evening.

The Flying Dutchmen (4-14, 0-8 ECAC West) led 6-4 at the second intermission after freshman Matt Rowe and senior Chris Finnerty scored back-to-back goals over a 1:01 span late in the second period.

But Manhattanville (16-2, 7-1 ECAC West) wasted little time starting its rally, scoring twice over the first 2:53 of the third period to make it a 6-6 game. The Valiants went ahead to stay 3:38 later, than added a pair of insurance goals while shutting out the Dutchmen over the final 20 minutes, when it out-shot LVC 18-5.

Jay Chrapala saved all six shots he faced for Manhattaville after replacing starting goalie Andrew Gallant with 2:53 left in the second period.

The Valiants, who out-shot the Dutchmen 50-20 for the game, scored two goals 1:02 apart early in the first period to take a 2-0 lead. But Lebanon Valley evened the score heading into the first break after Rowe scored on a 5-on-3 power-play with 7:04 on the clock and sophomore Justin Todd punched in a short-handed tally 19 seconds before the end of the stanza.

Manhattanville went back in front when it scored 1:57 into the second period before Lebanon Valley answered with a pair of goals to assume a 4-3 lead. Junior Jeff Smith scored his team-leading ninth goal of the season with 11:01 on the clock, and Todd put the Dutchmen in front when, with 7:11 to go, he scored again with LVC skating a man down. In the process, he became the sixth player in school history and the first since Cameron Vandeveer in 2003 to record two short-handed goals in one game.

Just 30 seconds later, Manhattaville tied the game for the third time before Rowe and Finnerty gave the Dutchmen their 6-4 lead.

Lebanon Valley touched up Gallant for six goals in 37:07. Sophomore Craig Vardy posted 41 saves for Lebanon Valley.

The Dutchmen return to action on Friday, when they host Hobart College at 7 p.m. in another ECAC West contest.

Lebanon Valley 2 4 0 - 6
Manhattanville 2 2 5 - 9

FIRST PERIOD
M – Chris Galiotti (Neil Clark, Chris Wanchulak), 2:13
M – Zeke Hume (unassisted), ppg, 3:15
LV – Matt Rowe (unassisted), ppg, 12:56
LV – Justin Todd (Jeff Smith), shg, 19:41
SECOND PERIOD
M – B.J. Greaves (Ross Oldcorn), 1:57
LV – Jeff Smith (Brendon Herr), 8:59
LV – Justin Todd (Brendon Herr, Jason Slusher), shg, 12:49
M – Andrew McShea (B.J. Greaves, Brendan McIntyre), ppg, 13:19
LV – Matt Rowe (unassisted), 16:06
LV – Chris Finnerty (Jeff Smith, Jason Slusher), ppg, 17:07
THIRD PERIOD
M – Ross Oldcorn (Billy Foulds), 0:43
M – Jordan Menzies (Jason Murfitt, Galloway Carroll), 2:53
M – Paul Prefontaine (Brendan McIntyre), ppg, 6:31
M – Chris Wanchulak (Andrew McShea, Neil Clark), 13:12
M –Ross Oldcorn (unassisted), 19:10

Shots: Lebanon Valley 20. Manhattanville 50.
Saves: Lebanon Valley (Craig Vardy) 41. Manhattanville (Andrew Gallant [37:07] 8, Jay Chrapala [22:53] 6) 14.
Power Plays: Lebanon Valley 2 for 5. Manhattanville 3 for 8.
Penalties: Lebanon Valley 15 for 30. Manhattanville 12 for 24.
Team Records: Lebanon Valley 4-14, 0-8 ECAC West. Manhattanville 16-2, 7-1 ECAC West.