How It Happened
Matt Aldridge's first career hat trick and Klayton Garman's six-point game paced Lebanon Valley to a 12-9 win over Hood in their Commonwealth Conference opener.

In a back-and-forth battle, the Dutchmen (5-3, 1-0 CC) took advantage of a 5-0 run late in the third quarter and early in the fourth to overcome a 6-5 Hood lead.

Garman had three goals with as many assists, and Alex Bushong and Brett Kudlak contributed two goals and an assist each. Hood's Patrick O'Brien had four first-half goals.

LVC led 3-0 in the first quarter on goals by Garman, Bushong, and Aldridge, and it was 4-1 early in the second after Kudlak's first. The Blazers (4-5, 0-1 CC) then hit on a 4-0 spurt keyed by three of O'Brien's goals to lead 5-4 before Garman leveled with 2:26 left in the half.

Hood took the lead to start the third, but a transition goal by Austin Minnich tied it at 6-6 before Aldridge and Bushong (the latter with 1.4 seconds left) found the net. Kudlak and Aldridge tallied to begin the fourth, and late goals by Garman and Mason Hoff sealed the win despite three fourth-quarter Hood markers.

Notables
- Aldridge's three goals were the first career hat trick for the senior. He also had a pair of ground balls.
- Bushong's pair marked his sixth multi-goal game of the season. 
- LVC led 29-23 on shots after training 11-9 at halftime. 
- Neither team converted an extra-man opportunity as LVC was 0-for-2 and Hood 0-for-1. It was the sixth time this year LVC did not allow a man-up goal.
- Blake Weaver had a big game on defense with a career-high four caused turnovers to go with five ground balls. Backline partner Coleman Wagner also had five scoops with one caused turnovers.
- Jeremy Beaver was 6-for-13 on face-offs; John Kolp 5-for-11. Hood's Zach Kauffman was 13-for-23.
- Kevin Masterson (5-2) made five saves in the win. Eric Wilcoxson had one stop and did not allow a goal in the final 3:48 of the game. Joey McCulloh stopped seven in the loss.

Next Up
LVC heads to Alvernia on Saturday.