HERSHEY, Pa. - PJ Hefferin's third period goal lifted #25 Lebanon Valley to a 3-2 victory over a pesky West Chester squad at Hersheypark Arena on Friday night, Nov. 7. The junior captain ripped his one-timer off the right post and past WCU goaltender Michael Rice for what held as the game-winner 1:11 into the final period.

Sophomore Brennan Thompson added a first period power play score and freshman Russ Armbruster netted a pretty goal with less than minute remaining in the opening period.

The visitors got on the board first when James Muncie found Tyler Whitacre off a pretty two-line pass midway through the first period. Whitacre was all alone in the LVC zone when he put his wrister past Flying Dutchmen goaltender Brendan Manquen in the game's 12th minute.

Lebanon Valley took advantage of a Golden Ram penalty, answering back quickly when Thompson netted the equalizer from right of goal off a strong pass from sophomore Justin Boyd at the 4:27 mark of the first period. Junior assistant captain Andy Thurby recorded the second assist on the score.

The Blue and White weren't done as Armbruster put the Dutchmen ahead for the first time when he followed Cole Godfrey's shot and finished off the rebound attempt from point-blank range with 34 seconds remaining in the first period. Junior Matthew Reno also assisted on the play.

Defense reigned supreme in the second period as opportunities were few and far between. West Chester converted one such chance late in the stanza when a bad bounce of the puck led to the Rams second goal of the night. The Dutchmen lost sight of John Mango's attempt and by the time Manquen located the disk it was too late.

Then, barely moments after the blades hit the ice in the third period, Hefferin netted the deciding score. Reno recorded his second assist of the night on the play.

Lebanon Valley dominated possession of the puck and controlled the game with an aggressive offensive approach as the Dutchmen outshot WCU 42-19. Credit has to go to the visitors for hanging around in a game that they had little business of having a shot at as the final seconds ticked away.

Manquen was steady between the pipes and made 17 saves on the night, including a beautiful glove save that stoned the Rams' James Davis in a crucial one-on-one situation from in close midway through the second period.

The victory improved Lebanon Valley to 6-5 on the year and 3-4 against ESCHL competition. The Dutchmen will look to make a clean sweep of the home-and-home weekend series with the Rams when they travel to West Chester for their next outing tomorrow night, Nov. 8. The puck is scheduled to drop at 7:30 p.m.

Three Stars of the Game:
1. PJ Hefferin (Game-winner)
2. Russ Armbruster (Latest equalizer)
3. Matthew Reno (Two assists)