ANNVILLE, Pa. – The Flying Dutchmen's most recent victory, a 3-1 decision over Commonwealth Conference foe Albright on Wednesday evening, was a tale of two halves.  Lebanon Valley fell behind in the early going before exploding offensively in the second half en route to winning the team's 2014 conference opener at Herbert Field.  Freshman Austin Freeman, junior Bradley Mehl, and freshman Matt Prince netted a goal each.

A defensive struggle broke out to begin the contest and after each team managed just one shot apiece in the opening 19 minutes, Albright broke through when Austin Phillips found Andrew Sussingham who immediately touched a pass back to Phillips.  Phillips fired his shot into the right side of the Dutchmen net and gave the visitors an early advantage.

Aside from the lone Albright score, neither team had much to write home about in the first half.  After the break, however, LVC looked like a different team.

The Dutchmen were aggressive from the moment the second half began and were quickly rewarded for it when junior Jake Herron found a cutting Freeman deep in the Lions' box.  Herron's pass was precise and Freeman's finish was true and Lebanon Valley got on the board in the 47th minute.

LVC continued to attack press the issue and the Dutchmen were awarded a free kick following an Albright foul just outside the visitors' box.  Mehl took the free kick and lofted his attempt over the Lions' defensive wall and into the right side of the net to give the home team its first lead in the 59th minute.

As time ticked away, there was no letup from Lebanon Valley.  After Prince and junior Curtis Washburn just missed hooking up for a score moments earlier, the pair connected for a goal in the 81st minute that ended any hopes of an Albright comeback.  Washburn made a cross from the left side of the field that Prince gathered.  He drove into the box and struck his attempt past a diving Austin Aldinger and into the left side of the Lions' goal.  The score was Prince's second of the season and came on a day when Freeman, his teammate at Hamburg High School, netted his first of the year.

Despite allowing a score, Dutchmen keeper Cam Avery made three crucial saves, including one Lion attempt that he deflected off the post after fully extending and diving to his left.  The victory was his second of the year.

The win got the Dutchmen back to the .500 mark at 5-5-1 on the year and kicked off the team's league play with a valuable victory.  Lebanon Valley will be tested in their next matchup when they host Commonwealth rival Messiah, the nation's top-ranked team, on Saturday afternoon, Oct. 11.  The matchup is also LVC's homecoming outing.  Kickoff at Herbert Field is set for 3 p.m.