HERSHEY, Pa. ­­– First-year goaltender Mia Frisoni made 44 saves for the Lebanon Valley College women's ice hockey team on Friday, as the team dropped its season opener 5-0 to SUNY Morrisville at Hersheypark Arena. 

Lebanon Valley (0-1-0) competed until the final minute against SUNY Morrisville (1-0-0), battling valiantly during the program's first game of the campaign. The Flying Dutchmen were aggressive offensively in the first period, taking a total eight shots. Sophomore Alex Spiers helped the program generate some of these opportunities, sending a pair of shots towards the net during the frame. Frisoni also helped keep the opposition in check during the first 20 minutes, making 13 saves. 

SUNY Morrisville opened the scoring with 6:53 remaining in the first period, taking a 1-0 lead on a goal by Kendal Kalinowski. The Mustangs then extended their advantage to 2-0 on a goal by Alana McDonald, with 59 seconds left in the frame.

Morrisville found the net again 4:52 into second period, advancing the score to 3-0 on another goal by McDonald. Lebanon Valley created some offensive opportunities in the second frame as well. The Flying Dutchmen sent three attempts towards the net within a span of 20 seconds beginning at the end of the sixth minute, as senior Jess Dawe, first-year Kiley McCooey and sophomore Tiffany Anderson took shots. 

The Dutchmen battled to get back into the game during the third period, generating scoring chances throughout the frame. The program took seven shots during the final frame, including two by graduate student Katie Pounder. SUNY Morrisville then scored twice in the third, advancing the score to 5-0 on power play goals by Kate Mabey and Kyliane Plouff. This would ultimately stand as the final score. 

Inside the Box Score:

• Frisoni made 44 saves during her first career game. 
• Pounder led the Flying Dutchmen with seven shots. 
• Junior Brenna Mulcahy attempted four shots during the contest.
• Lebanon Valley took a total of 23 shots. 
• Pounder and senior Grace Mayer led the program with a pair of blocked shots. 
• LVC won 33 faceoffs during the contest. 

Up Next
The Flying Dutchmen will return to action at 3 p.m. Saturday, as the program will host Albertus Magnus College at Hersheypark Arena. 

Stay Connected
Be sure to follow @lvcathletics on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook for the most in-depth coverage of LVC Athletics.