Lebanon Valley 7, Neumann 6

LVC Starters
Johnson (LW), Karas (C), Hovanec (RW), Yingst (D), Straub (D), Eisenhower (G)

Neumann Starters
Ordoobadi (LW), Dougherty (C), Kneedler (RW), Butler (D), Davidson (D), Pupplo (G)

How It Happened
HERSHEY, Pa. – In a game that featured nine total goals in the second period, Bryan Hovanec led Lebanon Valley's men's ice hockey team to a crucial 7-6 victory over Neumann University on Saturday afternoon in UCHC action. The Dutchmen improved to 6-7-2, 5-2-2 UCHC, while the Knights dropped to 5-12-1, 5-4-1 UCHC.

After the two teams traded goals in the first period, including Cole Hepler's tally from Felix Takacsi-Nagy and Zach Yingst, to say that the two teams stepped up their play in the second period would be an understatement.

27 seconds into the second period, with LVC on the man-advantage, Hovanec found the back of the net for the first time of the afternoon off assists from Karas and Brad Nolan for the Dutchmen's 2-1 lead. Just 20 seconds later, Neumann's Clayton Boyd evened the score at 2-2, but Hovanec provided another answer for LVC when he scored 3:34 into the period from Brett Johnson and Karas to put the Dutchmen back ahead by one at 3-2.

Then, just 25 seconds later, Travis Acker ripped a shot past Anthony Pupplo, increasing LVC's advantage to 4-2. At that time, the teams had combined for four goals in 3:59. Later in the period, at 10:37, Hovanec reached the hat trick when he scored another PP-goal, this time from Hepler, making it a 5-2 game in favor of the Dutchmen. Less than five minutes later, at 15:15, Joe Mitchell brought the Knights to within two at 5-3, but yet again Hovanec answered with his third PP-tally of the day just 18 seconds later, putting LVC back up by three at 6-3.

Three minutes later, Neumann came to within two goals again when Glenn Florczak scored, and later in the period, with just 20 seconds to go and the Dutchmen on the PK, Ryan Swain made it a one-goal game when he found the back of the net. In one of the craziest 20 minutes of action in recent memory, LVC found itself on top at 6-5 after 40 minutes of play.

For the majority of the third period, the Dutchmen maintained their slim lead until 17:29 when Mitchell netted another goal, this time a PP-score, to tie the game at 6-6 with just two a half minutes to go in regulation. LVC had no plans for overtime, and guess who scored the game winner? With a minute and 16 seconds remaining in the third, Hovanec netted his fifth goal of the game to give the Dutchmen a 7-6 advantage. Neumann pulled Pupplo with 30 seconds to go, but the Dutchmen held off the Knights and came away with the narrow, conference-victory.

Inside the Numbers
 - Hovanec's five-goal game is the most tallies in one game by a UCHC player this season. He recorded eight shots on net, tied for LVC's high this season, and was a +2.
 - Karas finished with three helpers, and added eight shots on net to tie with Hovanec and Johnson for the most in one game this season by a Dutchmen, while Johnson and Nolan added two apiece.
 - Hepler added a goal and an assist for the Dutchmen to go along with seven shots on net.
 - Joel Eisenhower made 29 saves to earn his third win of the season.
 - LVC dominated inside the faceoff circle, winning 51 compared to Neumann's 34. Hepler went 20-for-26 for the Dutchmen.

Playoff Picture
To prove how jumbled the UCHC currently is, after yesterday's tie, the Dutchmen were tied for sixth, but after today's win, LVC shot up to second place (5-2-2) behind Utica (7-2). Seven UCHC games remain for LVC, and it could come down to the final game.

Who's Next?
LVC continues UCHC action next Friday when the Dutchmen travel to take on Chatham at 7 p.m. LVC's Alumni Game at Hersheypark Stadium is set for next Saturday at 1:30 before the Dutchmen and Cougars complete the home-and-home at the 2018 Dutchmen Outdoor Classic next Saturday at 7 p.m.

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